Red Helmet and Work Gloves, Lee Jun-seok: "I Will Come to Gwangju Even at Dawn"

Damaged People Power Party Candidate Banner Replaced by Hand
"Determined Not to Neglect Efforts Toward Honam"
"Is This the Image of the Holy Site of the Democratization Movement?"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Hyun-ji] On the morning of the 21st around 5 a.m., Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, visited Gwangju wearing a red helmet and work gloves, climbing a ladder to personally replace damaged election banners of his party's candidates.

The day before, he also took a bus to Gwangju for the same reason. Although he said, "It's been three years since I last did this, so I don't quite remember the knotting method," he skillfully removed the torn banners with a knife and replaced them with new ones. Election banners for Joo Ki-hwan, the People Power Party candidate for mayor of Gwangju, and Kwak Seung-yong, the candidate for Gwangju Buk-gu council, were found torn on the 19th and 20th.

Lee described this banner restoration work as an "effort for Gwangju and Honam." At a meeting with reporters that day, he expressed his determination toward Honam, saying, "Even if there are some ups and downs in Honam, we will achieve results through relentless challenges," and "If we determine that banners have been damaged, we will come even at dawn to restore them." The banners were originally installed in high places and are presumed to have been deliberately damaged by someone. The police have received a report and are investigating the circumstances under which the banners were cut.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Candidate Kwak expressed regret, emphasizing that Gwangju is the "holy ground of the democratization movement." Through his YouTube channel the day before, he raised his voice, saying, "Is this the image of the holy ground of the democratization movement? Is this democracy?" and "What would others think of Gwangju? Please stop showing such disappointing scenes."

Lee announced a firm response. He said, "The police will be able to judge the intentionality, etc.," and added, "There are very strict punishment regulations under the Public Official Election Act, so from our side, it can only be seen as an unavoidable situation."

According to Article 240 of the Public Official Election Act, anyone who obstructs or damages election posters or banners without justifiable reason may face imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of up to 4 million won.

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