Controversy Over Busan Mayoral Election Banner Report... Park Hyungjun's Camp Claims "Photo Manipulation," Files Complaint with Election Commission

Media Outlet Reports "Street Trees Pruned to Avoid Obstructing Banner"

Park's Camp Questions "False Report on Different Trees"

Pruning Conducted in Mid-March, Banner Installed After May 1

In the lead-up to the Busan mayoral election, controversy has arisen over banners and the pruning of street trees. The dispute has escalated into a back-and-forth between the candidate's camp and the media regarding the accuracy of the reports.

The controversy began when a media outlet published an article claiming that street trees had been damaged to avoid obstructing a campaign banner. The article featured photos of both leafy trees and trees with their branches removed.

In response, the camp of Hyungjun Park, the People Power Party candidate, reported the issue to the election commission on May 14, stating that the photos and content were misrepresented.

Park's camp argued that the photos used in the article showed different trees but were edited to appear as before-and-after images of the same tree. They explained that the leafy tree and the tree without branches are two separate entities, and that the photos were taken from specific angles to make them appear as if they depicted the same tree.

A media outlet reported a comparative photo of candidate Park Hyungjun's banner. The outlet claimed that the candidate's banner was obscured by roadside trees, leading to subsequent pruning. In reality, the trees are not the same. [Image source=Internet capture]

A banner of candidate Park Hyungjun is attached to a building in Bujeon-dong, Busan. On the left, there is a lushly leafy street tree, and on the right, trees that have just finished pruning can be seen. A media outlet took the photo at a deliberate angle and reported as if the candidate's side pressured for the pruning of the street trees, sparking backlash. [Image source=Park Hyungjun election camp]

Park's camp is questioning the circumstances of the reporting. If the street trees were pruned after the banner was put up, they suspect that there was a deliberate intent to manipulate the photos. Conversely, if the pruning took place before the banner was installed, they argue that the report is entirely false.

An official from Busan City confirmed that the street trees had been pruned in mid-March. Park's camp claims that since the banner was posted after May 1, this constitutes a case of intentional "malicious editing."

Park's camp reported to the election commission on the 14th, asserting that the report constitutes a violation of the Public Official Election Act by publishing false information and slandering the candidate, as well as a breach of the media's obligation for fair reporting.

On the other hand, it has been reported that the article in question was intended to raise concerns about the management of street trees and the environment for election campaigning. However, as controversy arose over the interpretation of the photo angles and timing, verifying the facts has become a central issue.

Disputes over banners, facilities, and environmental management have been recurring issues during election seasons. In this case as well, differing interpretations of the photos and reporting methods are expected to fuel ongoing debate.

Some within political circles have pointed out that fact-checking and careful expression are especially important during election periods.

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