Bringing 'Daepa' to the Polling Station? Election Commission Says "It Disrupts Fair Voting"

In response to inquiries about whether it is permissible to bring green onions to polling stations as a form of protest against the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, the Central Election Commission confirmed the principle that political activities are not allowed at polling stations.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is conducting an on-site price inspection while listening to an explanation from Yeom Gi-dong, CEO of Nonghyup Distribution, at the vegetable section of the Nonghyup Hanaro Mart Yangjae branch in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 18th of last month.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

A representative from the Central Election Commission stated on the 5th that they had provided guidance to district, city, and county election commissions on how to handle potential complaints at polling stations. The guidance included instructions for election officials and staff to ask voters carrying green onions to store them in an appropriate place outside the early voting station before entering.

The representative explained, "There was an inquiry about whether voters could bring green onions to early voting stations as a sign of protest against the Yoon administration, so we provided this guidance at polling stations." They added, "We responded that it is restricted because it could influence other voters and disrupt the fair conduct of voting." However, voters are allowed to take photos holding green onions outside the early voting station after voting.

President Yoon Seok-yeol visited the Nonghyup Hanaro Mart Yangjae branch in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 18th of last month to check prices and sparked controversy by stating, "I think 875 won per bunch of green onions is a reasonable price." The opposition parties emphasized a call for regime change, blaming the rise in prices of agricultural and livestock products such as green onions on the government's policy failures.