"I Also Took Down Flyers, So Arrest Me"…Flood of Protests at Police Station Over 'Female Middle School Student Transfer'

Yongin Dongbu Police Station Faces Numerous Complaints on Free Bulletin Board
Higher Authorities to Conduct Supplementary Investigation Following Citizen Protests

Citizens have voiced strong protests regarding an incident in Yongin City, Gyeonggi Province, where a middle school girl was sent to the prosecution on charges of property damage for removing an unauthorized poster stuck on a mirror inside an apartment elevator. Since the case became known on the 3rd, over 400 protest posts related to the incident have been posted on the free bulletin board of the Yongin Dongbu Police Station website as of the 5th. Most of the post titles and contents began with protest statements such as "Is this the place that sent a middle school girl to the prosecution for removing illegal postings in an apartment elevator?"

[Photo by Yongin Dongbu Police Station Homepage Free Board]

The authors of the protest posts mocked the police's handling of the middle school girl, saying, "I also removed illegal advertisements and am willing to turn myself in." Some asked, "How can one remove illegal flyers without being sent to the prosecution?" while others lamented, "Someone posted illegal flyers on my front door without permission, but I can't just remove them carelessly. What should I do?"

One citizen said, "Isn't this a judgment that goes beyond common sense because the law is interpreted mechanically? What can the law do about that? Don't even say to blame the lawmakers." They added, "After listening to the phone call with the middle school girl’s side, the person who reported the incident was very aggressive, and it seemed inevitable, with no sign of apology, as if they had already branded her a criminal and were carrying out proactive administration."

They continued, "They could have persuaded the reporter by saying, 'You also did things like putting tape on someone else’s door, so please resolve this through dialogue.' It seems the report was processed mechanically because of multiple complaints. If things are handled like that, who wouldn’t get caught?"

Some citizens responded with comments such as, "Do the police not even read the apartment management regulations when investigating? Which apartment allows flyers to be posted anywhere without the management office’s seal?" "There is a precedent where removing posters out of frustration is innocent, so why is the middle school girl considered guilty?" and "Why isn’t the person who posted the unauthorized materials being investigated?"

As protests surged, the Yongin Dongbu Police Station issued a response under the chief’s name, stating, "First, I would like to apologize as the chief for causing concern to many people due to media reports." They added, "Regardless of the controversy over the illegality of the posted materials in this case, we regret that more careful police administration was not carried out in the end." They also said, "We humbly accept your interest and criticism and will strive to become a warmer Yongin Dongbu Police." However, due to the flood of protest posts, they have been unable to respond to each post individually.

Earlier on the 3rd, the Yongin Dongbu Police Station in Gyeonggi Province sent middle school student A to prosecution on charges of property damage on the 8th of last month. A is accused of removing an unauthorized notice attached to the elevator mirror in an apartment in Giheung-gu, Yongin, where she lives, on May 11.
[Photo by JTBC Sajeonbanjang]

Earlier on the 3rd, the Yongin Dongbu Police Station sent middle school student A to the prosecution on charges of property damage on the 8th of last month. A is accused of removing an unauthorized poster stuck on a mirror inside the elevator of an apartment in Giheung-gu, Yongin, where she lives, on May 11. At the time, A reportedly removed the poster because it obstructed her view while looking in the mirror. Another resident in their 60s, B, who tore off the poster, and the management office director C, who posted another notice over the poster, were also sent to the prosecution. A similar incident occurred in July last year, with two residents sent to the prosecution on property damage charges. A’s side has raised issues with the police’s judgment and filed objections through the National Petition System. The higher authority, the Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency, has reportedly decided to conduct supplementary investigations, judging that there are additional matters to consider regarding this decision.