"Hole in Lee Jaemyung's Poster"... 26 Cases of Damage Reported in Gwangju and Jeonnam

Cigarette Burn Marks and Complete Destruction Reported
12 Cases in Gwangju, 14 in Jeonnam
Police: "Violation of the Public Official Election Act, Strict Response"

With two weeks remaining until the 21st presidential election, cases of candidate election posters being damaged are continuously occurring in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions.

According to the Gwangju and Jeonnam Metropolitan Police Agencies on the 21st, a total of 12 election-related reports had been received in Gwangju as of the previous day.

On the 15th, a citizen was seen moving while looking at a poster at a bus stop in Hakdong, Donggu, Gwangju. Photo by Yonhap News

At around 7 p.m. on May 19 in Yudeok-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju, police launched an investigation after burn marks from a cigarette were found on the election poster of independent candidate Song Jin-ho. The day before, on May 18, an unidentified individual tore the nose area of the Democratic Party candidate Lee Jaemyung's poster attached near an apartment complex in Ssangchon-dong, Seo-gu.

Earlier, on May 15, a man in his 50s, identified as A, was booked without detention on suspicion of tearing down all seven candidates' posters attached to the exterior wall of an apartment building in Wolsan-dong, Nam-gu.

In Jeonnam, 14 reports related to election poster damage were filed during the same period. By region, there were 7 cases in Mokpo, 3 in Naju, and 1 case each in Muan, Jindo, Damyang, and Yeosu. Among these, the identities of 7 individuals?5 in Mokpo and 2 in Naju?were confirmed, and they were booked on criminal charges.

A police official stated, "Damaging candidates' posters or banners for any reason constitutes a violation of the Public Official Election Act," adding, "We are responding strictly, focusing on the dedicated election crime investigation teams."

The Public Official Election Act stipulates that, without just cause, damaging election posters or banners may result in imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of up to 4 million won. For minors or juvenile offenders, protective measures or guidance procedures are applied instead of criminal punishment.