Police to Intensify Election-Related Crackdown System Until Presidential Election

Simultaneous Crackdown on Hoarding of COVID-19 Diagnostic Kits

On the morning of the 11th, the Election Crime Investigation Situation Room, which began operations with a plaque ceremony at the National Police Agency in Migeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The National Police Agency announced on the 14th that it will operate an intensive crackdown system on election-related activities from the 15th until the presidential election day on the 9th of next month.

The police plan to focus on cracking down on various gatherings such as hometown associations, clan meetings, and alumni meetings aimed at influencing the election, as well as visits for party recruitment, speeches, and interviews. They will also strengthen enforcement against election-related violence such as vandalism of banners and posters, disruption of speeches and interviews, as well as illegal activities including bribery and spreading false information.

Until the 5th of next month, the police will also intensively monitor distribution disorder acts such as price inflation and hoarding of COVID-19 self-diagnostic kits. The legal basis for this is the "Special Act on the Promotion of Development and Emergency Supply of Medical Products for Public Health Crisis Response." Acts such as manufacturers producing and shipping small-sized units, shipping without prior approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, or failing to report the previous day's production volume to the Ministry are also subject to enforcement.

Meanwhile, the police have developed a "consultation chatbot" to support victims of sexual violence. Considering the low reporting rate characteristic of sex crimes, the police developed an AI-based chat consultation chatbot. From this month, it has been officially operating on the National Police Agency's Safe Dream website. The chatbot provides services such as guidance on victim support systems, crisis response including evidence collection and coping, reporting support including complaint forms and similar precedents, and linkage to support organizations.

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