"Swinging an Umbrella While Running"…Middle-Aged Woman Investigated for Assault at Kim Tae-woo's Campaign Rally

Assaulted with an Umbrella During Election Campaign Rally
Campaign Worker Says "Seemed to Have Drunk a Little"

Police have launched an investigation after a campaign worker for Kim Tae-woo, the People Power Party candidate in the upcoming by-election for the mayor of Gangseo District, Seoul, reported being assaulted by a middle-aged woman during a campaign event.

According to the Gangseo Police Station, around 6:45 p.m. on the 30th of last month, a female campaign worker was suddenly attacked with an umbrella by a middle-aged woman identified as Ms. A at the Bangsin Market intersection in Banghwa-dong, Gangseo District, Seoul, while campaigning.

On the afternoon of the 30th, near Banghwa-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, where the district mayor election campaign was in full swing, Mr. A charged at an election campaign worker for Kim Tae-woo, the People Power Party candidate, swinging an umbrella.
[Photo by Kim Tae-woo, People Power Party candidate's campaign]

A male campaign worker who said he was also assaulted while filming the incident at the scene stated, "A regular citizen was giving a speech in support of candidate Kim from the campaign vehicle," adding, "The middle-aged woman approached the campaign vehicle swinging an umbrella as she crossed the crosswalk."

He said, "I hurriedly started filming with my camera just in case," and "Then, after hitting the female campaign worker with the umbrella, she punched me, telling me not to film."

The male campaign worker added, "Ms. A said 'We are with the Democratic Party' along with an acquaintance, and seemed to have consumed some alcohol."

On the afternoon of the 30th, near Banghwa-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, where the district mayor election campaign was in full swing, Mr. A charged at an election campaign worker for Kim Tae-woo, the People Power Party candidate, swinging an umbrella.
[Photo by Kim Tae-woo, People Power Party candidate's campaign team]

In the video recorded at the time, Ms. A, who was walking on the sidewalk, suddenly swings a black umbrella and rushes at the female campaign worker holding a sign promoting candidate Kim’s pledges. Ms. A raises the black umbrella and strikes the campaign worker. The female campaign worker raises the sign she was holding to block the umbrella and then hides behind a utility pole.

When another woman nearby grabs and restrains Ms. A, she changes direction and charges at another campaign worker filming her while swinging the umbrella. She then swings the umbrella toward the male campaign worker who was filming her with a camera.

The police are currently investigating on charges including simple assault and special assault using a dangerous object.