"Election Campaign Noise"…60-Year-Old Fined for Stealing USB Containing Songs

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] A man in his 60s who took a USB from an amplifier during the 4·15 general election campaign period, complaining about the loud noise from a National Assembly candidate's campaign, and did not return it, was sentenced to a fine.

According to the court on the 1st, the Criminal Division 11 of the Seoul Eastern District Court (Chief Judge Son Joo-chul) sentenced Mr. A, who was indicted for violating the Public Official Election Act, to a fine of 5 million won on the 27th of last month.

Mr. A is accused of pulling out and taking a USB from an amplifier used for the campaign of a candidate from the National Revolutionary Dividend Party running in the 4·15 general election in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on April 11 this year. The USB contained promotional songs, and it was investigated that Mr. A seized it while protesting that the campaign music was too loud.

The court stated, "The defendant's act of seizing election campaign materials disrupted the freedom and order of the election campaign, which is a serious offense," and added, "He committed the crime again without refraining during the probation period." It further explained, "However, considering that the crime was committed impulsively during a noise protest and that there is no prior record of the same kind."

Mr. A was also sentenced to six months in prison for charges of special intimidation and damage to public property.

Mr. A is accused of threatening Mr. B and Mr. C, who were arguing on a road in Songpa-gu, Seoul, in June, by swearing and pulling out a weapon from his suitcase when a dispute arose after asking them to make way. Additionally, in August, he is charged with breaking a power cable and a warning light on a closed-circuit television (CCTV) on a road in the same district because the usual announcement voice was not playing while he was intoxicated.

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