Gwangju City Election Commission Reports 40-Year-Old Man to Prosecutors for Ballot Damage and Staff Assault

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Gwangju Metropolitan City Election Commission announced on the 10th that it has reported voter A (46) to the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office on charges of tearing a ballot paper and assaulting an election official at an early voting station (violation of the Public Official Election Act).

At around 6:40 a.m. on the same day, Mr. A is accused of causing a disturbance at the early voting station in Duam 3-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, by tearing a ballot paper, inserting half of it into the ballot box, scattering the other half inside the voting station, and assaulting an election official who tried to stop him.

He is also accused of tearing investigation documents, verbally abusing and assaulting election commission staff, and pushing them during an investigation at the Buk-gu Election Commission.

Article 244 (Assault or Disturbance against Election Officials or Facilities) Paragraph 1 of the Public Official Election Act stipulates that anyone who assaults election commission employees or damages ballots or investigation documents shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than one year and not more than ten years, or by a fine of not less than 5 million won and not more than 30 million won.

Article 136 (Obstruction of Official Duties) Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Act stipulates that anyone who assaults a public official performing their duties shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than five years or by a fine of not more than 10 million won.

A representative of the Gwangju Election Commission stated, “We will take strong measures based on the law, including reporting to the authorities, against anyone who assaults or threatens election officials or damages ballots, thereby obstructing election management.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.