Banners Slashed and Campaign Vehicles Attacked... Surge in 'Election Disruption' Incidents

Banners Damaged Across the Country...
850 Arrested for Election Material Vandalism During the 20th Presidential Election

Election banners of Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, have been repeatedly damaged, prompting the police to launch an investigation.

According to the Jungbu Police Station in Incheon on May 15, a report was received around 8 p.m. the previous day that one of Lee's banners posted at Incheon Station had been damaged. The banner featured a photo of Lee and the phrase "Now is Lee Jae Myung." Police are reviewing nearby CCTV footage and vehicle black box recordings to determine the exact circumstances. In Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, police are also investigating after receiving a report that several of Lee's election banners had been found damaged. According to the Icheon Police Station, the Democratic Party's campaign office reported via the 112 emergency line that six of Lee's election banners had been found damaged in downtown Icheon between May 12 and the day of the report.

Election banners of Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, were repeatedly damaged, prompting the police to launch an investigation. According to the Jungbu Police Station in Incheon on the 15th, a report was received that one of Lee's banners posted at Incheon Station was damaged around 8 p.m. the previous day. Yonhap News

Incidents of damage to Lee Jae Myung's election banners and campaign vehicles have been occurring in succession nationwide, not only in Incheon and Gyeonggi Province. According to the police and the Election Commission on May 14, a report was received at 5:40 a.m. the previous day that one of Lee's banners posted along the roadside in Songsan-ri, Jeungpyeong-eup, Jeungpyeong County, North Chungcheong Province, had been damaged. The banner was found with the face portion of Lee torn by a sharp object.

Police have secured nearby CCTV footage and have begun tracking the suspect. On the same day in Samcheok, Gangwon Province, an incident occurred in which the tire of Lee's campaign vehicle was damaged. The Samcheok Police Station has arrested and is investigating a man in his 60s, identified as Mr. A, on suspicion of violating the Public Official Election Act. At the time, Mr. A was heavily intoxicated, and police are working to determine his motive. Police plan to apply additional charges of property damage if the allegations are substantiated through further investigation, including CCTV analysis.

Additionally, on the afternoon of May 12, one of Lee's banners was damaged near Iwon Intersection in Bukpyeong-dong, Donghae, Gangwon Province. The Gangwon Election Commission has requested an investigation by the Donghae Police Station regarding the unidentified perpetrator. On the same morning, a report was also received that one of Lee's banners had been damaged in Chungmu-dong, Seo-gu, Busan. After conducting interviews at the scene, police arrested a man in his 50s on suspicion of violating the Public Official Election Act.

According to the Public Official Election Act, damaging or removing election banners or posters without justifiable reasons is punishable by imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of up to 4 million won. An official from the Election Commission stated, "We will take strict measures against illegal acts that disrupt fair election order," and urged, "Please be especially careful to prevent damage to election banners and posters." Photo by Jo Yongjun

According to the Public Official Election Act, damaging or removing election banners or posters without justifiable reasons is punishable by imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of up to 4 million won. An official from the Election Commission stated, "We will take strict measures against illegal acts that disrupt fair election order," and urged, "Please be especially careful to prevent damage to election banners and posters."

Meanwhile, during the 20th presidential election held in 2022, a total of 850 people were referred to the authorities on charges of damaging banners or posters. This accounted for 32.5% of the total 2,614 election law violators at that time. In other words, more than three out of every ten election law offenders were charged with damaging banners or posters. During last year's 22nd National Assembly election, a total of 305 people were also referred on charges of damaging banners or posters.