Kim Byungnae, Nam-gu District Chief in Gwangju, Faces Controversy Over Illegal Campaign Office After Banner Violations

Illegal Structures on a Three-Story Building: Sole Focus on Self-Promotion
Rooftop Signs Permitted Only on Buildings with Five or More Floors
Congratulatory Wreaths for Office Opening Displayed Outside
Nam-gu Office: "Violation Confirmed, Correction Order Planned"
Election Commission: "No Display of Wreaths Related to Political Events"

Exterior view of the election campaign office of Byeongnae Kim, candidate for mayor of Namgu, Baegun-dong, Gwangju. Photo provided by reader

There are allegations that Kim Byungnae, prospective candidate for Nam-gu District Chief in Gwangju, who has maintained a strict crackdown on political banners in the region under the slogan of "no sanctuary in enforcement," is himself repeatedly engaging in illegal promotional activities.

Critics claim that Kim, after having blatantly promoted his political event—a publication celebration—through the use of banners while leveraging his administrative authority, received a legal interpretation from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety deeming this illegal and suffered public embarrassment. Nevertheless, he has allegedly continued to violate the law, appearing to be obsessed with political self-promotion.

According to a compilation of reports by The Asia Business Daily on March 20, Kim Byungnae, prospective candidate for Nam-gu District Chief (currently suspended from office), opened his campaign office in a three-story building in the Baegun-dong area of Nam-gu, Gwangju, on March 17.

As soon as Kim entered suspension from his post as district chief on March 15, the building was covered with banners, and two more banners were hung on the rooftop signboard. Dozens of lighting fixtures were installed so that the rooftop banners would be even more visible at night.

The issue is that these rooftop banners may be in violation of relevant laws. It has been confirmed that Kim's campaign did not even go through the district office’s approval or notification procedures for these rooftop banner advertisements.

Additionally, under the Outdoor Advertisements Act in Nam-gu, rooftop signs are only permitted on buildings with five to fifteen floors; however, this building has only three floors. Furthermore, Gwangju city’s ordinance on outdoor advertising prohibits installing lighting or auxiliary lighting devices on rooftop signs, yet dozens of lights have been installed along with the illegal banners.

Previously, from January 7 to 18, a total of twelve days, about 300 light pole banners promoting Kim Byungnae’s publication celebration were placed throughout Nam-gu. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety deemed this an “illegal act” and stated to 17 provinces and major cities nationwide that a book concert commemorating the publication of a politician’s book cannot be regarded as a cultural or artistic promotion event.

At the time, Nam-gu authorities argued that these banners were subject to notification under the Outdoor Advertisements Act and insisted on “procedural legitimacy,” claiming that proper notification and approval had been completed.

Regarding the current rooftop sign promotion, Nam-gu stated they were unaware in advance because no prior notification had been filed.

A Nam-gu official commented, “The rooftop sign installed at Kim Byungnae’s campaign office was put up without any separate approval or notification to the district office, so we were not aware of its existence. Rooftop signs are only permitted on buildings with five or more floors, but this sign was installed on a three-story building. We are planning to issue a voluntary removal order after internal review.”

There are also indications of violations of the Public Official Election Act. Outside Kim Byungnae’s campaign office, congratulatory wreaths with phrases like “Congratulations on the opening of the campaign office” and “Wishing you success” have been placed. The Election Act prohibits the installation or display of such promotional wreaths within 120 days prior to the election day.

As a result, there are criticisms that Kim is exploiting his administrative authority to interpret the law to his own advantage while committing illegal acts.

Regarding this, an official from the Gwangju City Election Commission stated, “If flower wreaths contain phrases that suggest a political event such as a campaign office opening, it may constitute a violation of the Public Official Election Act. From 120 days before the election, it is prohibited to display wreaths outside that include the name of a prospective candidate.”

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