Pulled the Wrist of a Woman in Her 80s and Coerced Her to Vote
Public Official Election Act: Up to 5 Years in Prison or 30 Million Won Fine
Police: "Will Summon for Investigation Soon"
On the first day of early voting for the 21st presidential election on the 29th, voters are casting their ballots at an early voting station (photo for article illustration). Photo by Dongju Yoon
A woman in her 60s was apprehended by police in front of an early voting station for the 21st presidential election after she allegedly coerced a voter to support a specific candidate.
On June 2, the Jecheon Police Station in North Chungcheong Province announced that they had booked a woman in her 60s, referred to as Ms. A, without detention on suspicion of violating the Public Official Election Act.
Ms. A is accused of forcibly pulling the wrist of an elderly woman in her 80s, referred to as Ms. B, while urging her to vote for a specific candidate in front of the Jungang-dong Administrative Welfare Center early voting station in Jecheon City at around 11 a.m. on May 29, the first day of early voting. Ms. B immediately went to the local police substation to report the incident, and police identified Ms. A after reviewing CCTV footage and other evidence.
According to the Public Official Election Act, anyone who expresses support for or opposition to a specific party or candidate within a polling station or within 100 meters of a polling station may be subject to imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to 30 million won.
The police plan to summon Ms. A soon to investigate the details of the incident. A police official stated, "Since Ms. B did not wish to pursue punishment, the charge of assault, which requires the victim’s complaint, was not applied."
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