Unaware of Repeated Controversies... 'Vote for 국민의힘' on Public Institution Meal Menu

Published 05 Apr.2024 16:10(KST)

Updated 05 Apr.2024 22:03(KST)

Public Institution Meal Plans Display "Vote for People Power Party" Slogan
Controversy as Same Phrase Used in Dormitories at Taean University, Chungnam

The phrase "Voting is the power of the people" was written on the meal plan of the Korea Tourism Organization.

The phrase "Vote for the People Power Party" printed on the Korea Tourism Organization's menu. [Photo by Korea Tourism Organization menu. Currently deleted.]

The phrase "Vote for the People Power Party" printed on the Korea Tourism Organization's menu. [Photo by Korea Tourism Organization menu. Currently deleted.]

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On the 4th, a photo with the phrase "Voting is the power of the people" was attached in the blank space for April 10, the election day, on the meal plan uploaded to the internal bulletin board of the Korea Tourism Organization for April 8 to April 12. Since meals were not provided on the voting day, an image encouraging voting was inserted, but criticism is rising that the voting encouragement phrase may evoke the ruling party, People Power Party, and thus undermine political neutrality.


This controversy caused by the phrase "Voting is the power of the people" is not the first time. At the end of last month, the same phrase was inserted in the meal plans of elementary schools in Daejeon and Hanam, Gyeonggi Province, causing controversy. The schools bowed their heads saying, "There was no political intention, it was a simple mistake," and tried to quell the controversy of encouraging voting for a specific party by distributing new meal plans with the problematic phrase deleted.


However, the controversy reignited as the same phrase appeared on the Korea Tourism Organization's meal plan this time. The criticism intensified because a photo using the same phrase was used despite the previous controversy. The organization distributed a new meal plan with the phrase deleted on the same day, but the controversy seems unlikely to subside as protest responses about the meal plan image continue to be posted on the organization's internal bulletin board. The organization apologized, saying, "The meal plan was created by the meal service operator and directly uploaded to the bulletin board," and "An employee raised the issue, and the content was immediately deleted."

The phrase "Voting is the Power of the People" posted at the dormitory of a university in Taean, Chungnam. <br>[Photo by a student of University A, Taean, Chungnam, Yonhap News]

The phrase "Voting is the Power of the People" posted at the dormitory of a university in Taean, Chungnam.
[Photo by a student of University A, Taean, Chungnam, Yonhap News]

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Meanwhile, on the same day, a post with the same phrase was posted in a university dormitory in Taean, Chungnam, causing controversy. Students of the university claimed that the dormitory posted a notice with the phrase "Voting is the power of the people" on elevators and other places along with a message asking students to apply for a vehicle service to the early voting station. When the controversy arose, the dormitory removed the post and canceled the vehicle operation plan.


Meanwhile, the four principles of elections are ▲universal suffrage ▲equal suffrage ▲direct suffrage ▲secret ballot. Among these, the secret ballot guarantees that no one else knows who a voter voted for during the election. While anyone can encourage voting participation in principle, if voting participation is encouraged in violation of the Public Official Election Act or other laws, it can be punished as illegal.

Korea Election Controversy ■ Restricted and Prohibited Acts During Voting
1. Restriction on entering polling stations
- Except for voters who intend to vote early, early voting observers and managers, members and staff of the town, township, and neighborhood election commissions and their higher election commissions, and election officials, no one else may enter the polling station.
- Anyone who is not a voter intending to vote early, an early voting observer or manager, a member or staff of the town, township, and neighborhood election commissions or their higher election commissions, or election officials but enters the polling station will be punished by imprisonment for up to 2 years or a fine of up to 4 million won.

2. Prohibition of carrying weapons, etc.
- Except for police officers and police station chiefs maintaining order at early voting stations, no one may carry weapons, sharp objects, or explosives inside the polling station.
- Anyone who recklessly enters the polling station carrying weapons, sharp objects, explosives, or other items capable of killing people will be punished by imprisonment for up to 7 years.

3. Prohibition of disruptive behavior
- If someone behaves disruptively inside the early voting station or within 100 meters of the polling station, or supports or opposes a specific party or candidate, they may be restrained by the early voting manager or staff, and if they do not comply with the order, they may be expelled from the polling station or its restricted area.
- Voters expelled due to the above behavior will vote last.

4. Prohibition of election-influencing signs
- No one may wear armbands, badges, or other signs that may influence the election on election day.
- Anyone who wears signs influencing the election on election day will be punished by imprisonment for up to 2 years or a fine of up to 4 million won.

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