[Inside Chodong] The Dangers of 'Hate Speech' That Only Satisfies One's Own Side

"Jeollado is taking everything! The world belongs to Jeollado!"

On the night of the 11th, a reporter watching the vote count broadcast for the Gangseo District Mayor by-election could hardly believe their ears. As the vote count results heavily skewed to one side, an enraged woman shouted loudly, causing a commotion at the counting site. For the reporter, it was the most ironically laughable farce of this election and a heavy-hearted episode reflecting the regional conflict politics in our country.

Vote counting is underway at the counting center set up in the indoor badminton court of Magok Sports Center, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 11th, the by-election day for the Gangseo District Mayor. Photo by Yonhap News

Was this woman a member of the campaign team for the defeated candidate Kim Tae-woo? The Gangseo District Election Commission responded, "Nothing has been identified yet." However, while she might be a supporter, she does not appear to be a campaign staff member. Anyone who has been to a vote counting site even once would know immediately. Except for the counting personnel, the counting site is observed by monitors, spectators, and reporters. Among these, monitors are people selected by the candidates. Also, according to Article 182 of the Public Official Election Act, any ordinary person can receive a spectator pass issued by the election commission at each level and watch from designated areas. This is to ensure transparency by making the counting process public.

While election campaigning is often seen, not many people have directly witnessed the vote counting process. The counting proceeds in a more intense atmosphere than campaigning. Especially in closely contested areas, every single vote can determine the outcome, so monitors dispatched by the campaigns often engage in hours-long debates over ambiguous ballots. For this reason, key monitors are selected from experienced or trusted individuals who understand elections well. They must actively respond on behalf of the candidate if unfavorable situations arise.

In this context, monitors do not usually have bad relations even if they belong to different political parties. This is because there are only a limited number of people in the region who are active in party activities, knowledgeable about elections and counting, and capable of persuading others within reasonable limits. For these reasons, key personnel are repeatedly selected as monitors and naturally become familiar with each other’s faces. This is especially true when the election results heavily lean to one side. When debates cannot change the outcome, they even console each other. Although they competed fiercely, having been on the same battlefield creates an emotional bond. Considering these circumstances, the shouting woman appears to be an ordinary spectator unrelated to any specific party.

Of course, it cannot be said that this woman’s remarks represent the views of a particular group. It is merely a sudden outburst from someone with an extreme and marginal opinion. However, such hateful remarks in public places do not contribute to healthy political development.

This episode clearly shows the dark side of ‘fandom politics,’ where only satisfying one’s own side or camp matters. It views the opponent as an enemy to be defeated rather than engaging in rational dialogue and compromise. Because they see the other as an enemy, they boldly made a regional disparagement remark in a public place, especially at a by-election vote counting site where all citizens’ attention is focused. Politics that create enemies to unite one’s own side leads to destruction. The vulgar phrase "hae cheomeogeo" (roughly "take it all") also appeared in the last general election. A candidate who said "You’ve taken enough" to the Sewol ferry victims’ families was convicted in the first trial for repeated hateful remarks and handed the opposing party a victory with 180 seats. If the judgment of the people is feared, hateful remarks that violate common sense should be restrained.

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