Election Campaign Sites Hit by Flying Stones and Bricks... Repeated Candidate Election Interference Incidents

by Kim Hye Min

Published 05 Apr.2020 13:01(KST)

Updated 05 Apr.2020 13:47(KST)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] On the fourth day of the official election campaign for the April 15 general election, acts threatening candidates, such as dropping bricks at campaign sites, are occurring repeatedly.

According to political circles on the 5th, Joo Gwang-deok, a candidate from the United Future Party, experienced two bricks being thrown at him around 5:30 p.m. on the 3rd while campaigning in the Jingeon-eup area of Namyangju City. The two bricks, presumed to have fallen from the rooftop of a nearby building, pierced the glass roof of a bus stop about 19 meters from the campaign site and fell to the ground.

There were pedestrians nearby, but fortunately, no casualties occurred. The police confirmed that someone threw bricks at Representative Joo during his election campaign and are currently investigating. The United Future Party Gyeonggi Province Party issued a statement strongly protesting, saying, "What if someone had been hit?" and "Election interference and violent acts against candidates are serious crimes that destroy democracy."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the first day of the official election campaign, the 2nd, a stone was thrown at the campaign site of Lee Ji-won, a proportional representation candidate from the Women's Party, injuring a volunteer. At the time, Lee's campaign was held in front of Hongdae Entrance Station in Mapo-gu, Seoul, and the campaign team claims that several men in their 20s were present where the stone was thrown. The police are analyzing CCTV footage and tracking the suspects.

Acts of disrupting election campaigns through verbal abuse and assault are also occurring repeatedly.

On the 2nd, a man in his late 40s verbally abused and tried to snatch the microphone from Seok Ho-hyun, a United Future Party candidate campaigning in the Hwaseong-byeong district. According to the candidate's side, the man approached the campaign vehicle, verbally abused them, opened the generator door of the vehicle, and tried to turn off the switch, disrupting the campaign. He also threatened the candidate, who was speaking while holding a black long umbrella, by striking the umbrella shaft downward.

On the 18th of last month, Lee Nam-soo, a Justice Party candidate, and campaign workers were assaulted by passersby during a campaign in Nowon-byeong, Seoul. On the 5th of the same month, Pyeon Jae-seung, a Minjung Party candidate (Seongbuk-gu Eul, Seoul), was repeatedly struck in the face while conducting a solo campaign.

The Election Commission announced it would strictly respond, stating that acts disrupting democratic election order are serious election crimes. According to the Public Official Election Act, such acts may constitute the crime of obstructing election freedom. If a candidate or election-related personnel are assaulted or threatened, they may face imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine ranging from 5 million to 30 million won.