Lee Jungseon, Gwangju Superintendent of Education, Violates Election Law with Lunar New Year Banner... Administrative Action Taken

Lee Jungseon, Superintendent of Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education, was found to have violated the Public Official Election Act after banners were put up last month ahead of the Lunar New Year, announcing the free opening of parking lots at educational facilities and schools.

According to coverage by Asia Economy on the 20th, the Gwangju Election Commission recently took administrative action urging the Gwangju Office of Education to comply with the election law. Ahead of the Lunar New Year last month, the Office of Education put up banners in the name of Superintendent Lee at 142 locations including schools, reading, "Parking lots for residents! Have a warm and happy Lunar New Year!"

Photo of Lunar New Year banner by Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education. Provided by Citizens' Group for a Society Without Academic Cliffs

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This immediately led to controversy over election law violations. Article 86, Paragraph 5 of the election law states, "The head of a local government shall not publish, distribute, or broadcast promotional materials more than once per quarter for the purpose of informing about business plans, achievements, or other activities of the local government."

In response, the local education group Citizens' Coalition for a Society Without Academic Cliques pointed out, "Banners reading 'Parking lots for residents! Have a warm and happy Lunar New Year!' were posted at 142 locations including schools in the name of Superintendent Lee," adding, "School banners are usually installed at school gates or designated boards, but these were indiscriminately installed in public places such as intersections and main roads near schools, which constitutes a violation of the Outdoor Advertisement Act."

The group further stated, "The phrase 'Parking lots for residents!' could mislead people into thinking that school parking lots will be open at all times," and urged the Gwangju Election Commission to investigate whether Superintendent Lee violated the election law.

The Gwangju Election Commission, after receiving the case and conducting an investigation, notified the city Office of Education of the results on the 13th.

An official from the Election Commission told our newspaper, "We determined that putting up banners in the name of Superintendent Lee constituted a violation of the election law," and explained, "Considering the severity of the case, we issued an administrative action urging compliance with the election law, which is less severe than a report or warning."

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