Election Commission Premised on 'Early Presidential Election,' 'Banner Controversy' Continues

Allowed: 'Naeran Gongpum 000' targeting Yeo
Phrase 'Lee Jae-myung is not allowed' disapproved
Re-discussion this afternoon... "Must consider comprehensively"

The National Election Commission (NEC) has raised questions about the criteria for judging banner postings after ruling that a banner containing the phrase "Still, Lee Jae-myung is not acceptable" cannot be posted.

The NEC will hold a meeting at 5 p.m. on the 23rd to reconsider whether to allow the posting of the "Lee Jae-myung banner." Previously, Jeong Yeon-wook, a member of the People Power Party, intended to put up a banner targeting Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, in response to a banner from the National Innovation Party that read "Jeong Yeon-wook is also an accomplice to rebellion." However, Jeong revealed that he received a response from the NEC on the 19th stating that the banner could not be posted. He criticized the NEC, calling it "Ihyeonryeongbihyeonryeong, double standards NEC." The phrase "Ihyeonryeongbihyeonryeong" means "a ring when hung on the ear, a ring when hung on the nose," pointing out the NEC's inconsistent application of the law.

Afternoon of the 12th at Gwacheon Central Election Commission. Photo by Yonhap News.

Besides Jeong, the NEC did not restrict banners from People Power Party members that alleged their complicity in rebellion. Critical banners naming members Bae Jun-young and Yoon Sang-hyun are still displayed in their respective constituencies. As controversy over bias arose, the NEC decided to reconsider the matter on the same day. Kim Sang-hoon, chairman of the Policy Committee, pointed out at the meeting, "Allowing the posting of banners that describe our party members as accomplices to rebellion while banning the phrase 'Still, Lee Jae-myung is not acceptable' is, in itself, a very biased and politically motivated act."

The NEC's reason for disallowing the posting of banners related to Lee Jae-myung is that, with an early presidential election expected, and Lee being a likely candidate, the banners are seen as intended to defeat him. Article 90 of the Public Official Election Act, the relevant law, prohibits posting banners that influence elections from 180 days before the election day until the election day. Article 254 of the same law regulates "pre-election campaigning" aimed at electing or defeating a specific candidate. The early presidential election is expected to be held if the impeachment motion against President Yoon Seok-youl is accepted by the Constitutional Court, and the NEC judged the pre-election campaign status based on this premise.

On the 19th, Jeong Yeon-wook, a member of the People Power Party, posted on his personal SNS a sample of a banner that the Central Election Commission had notified him as "posting prohibited." Jeong criticized this measure as a "double standard by the Election Commission." Jeong Yeon-wook, Member of the National Assembly, Facebook

An NEC official told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "It must be viewed comprehensively," adding, "Even if expressions include the name of the leader, if the content is not directly related to the election, the interpretation can differ. It is a complex issue."