'Resolution of Banner Lawlessness' Public Official Election Act Amendment Passed in Plenary Session

The revision bill of the Public Official Election Act, which regulates election campaign banners and leaflets, passed the National Assembly plenary session on the 24th.

On the afternoon of the same day, the National Assembly approved the revision bill of the Public Official Election Act, which shortens the prohibited period for installing banners from the previous '180 days before the election day' to '120 days before the election day.' With the passage of this revision bill, the recently emerged 'lawless situation of election banners' is expected to be resolved.

In July last year, the Constitutional Court ruled some provisions of the Public Official Election Act unconstitutional or inconsistent with the Constitution, which banned political banners and posters from 180 days before the election day. The ruling was based on the grounds that it broadly restricted assemblies and gatherings, infringing on political expression and the freedom of election campaigning. Although the National Assembly subsequently moved to amend the law, the legislative gap lasted long, leading to indiscriminate posting of banners.