The United Future Party Election Commission Issues Verbal Warning Over Text Messages Misinterpreted as Support for Specific Candidates by Party Branches

The Election Commission of the People Power Party Central Committee issued a verbal warning on the 5th to certain candidates who sent support request text messages that could appear to be under the name of specific party association committees.

The Election Commission stated on the same day, "During the mobile voting process yesterday (the 4th), we took 'verbal warning' measures regarding election campaign text messages sent by some candidates."

Yoo Heung-soo, the Election Commission Chairman of the People Power Party, announced the finalists for the 3rd Party Leadership and Supreme Council Member election at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 10th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Baek Hyun-jin, the head of the Songpa-eul party association in Seoul and a member of the National Assembly, posted on Facebook the previous day a photo of a text message appealing for support for candidates Heo Eun-ah and Kim Yong-tae for Supreme Council member, stating, "This is not a text from the Songpa-eul party association. It is probably a message from candidate Heo, so please do not be mistaken." The message contained the content, "For the Songpa-eul party association to win the general election, the Supreme Council members must be Heo Eun-ah and Kim Yong-tae." It is also known that candidate Kim Jae-won for Supreme Council member received a warning from the Election Commission.

The Election Commission said, "In some cases, the content of election campaign text messages from certain candidates could be mistaken as if the party association to which the recipients belong supports a specific candidate, leading to a flood of protests from responsible party members of the association."

Additionally, the Election Commission urged candidates who sent election campaign text messages containing exit poll participation links to immediately stop, stating that conducting surveys under the name of 'exit polls' during ongoing voting, which are difficult to guarantee accuracy and objectivity, could influence voters' decisions and the Election Commission's fair election management. They warned that if not complied with, sanctions from the Election Commission would follow.