Election posters for Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate, have been repeatedly vandalized across the country. Police have launched an investigation.
According to police on the 19th, the Gwangjin Police Station received a report around 1:16 p.m. the previous day from the National Election Commission about a presidential election poster that was vandalized near the College of Veterinary Medicine at Korea University’s Seoul campus. The eye area of the candidate's face printed on the poster was torn. The Seocho Police Station received a 112 report on the 17th regarding the candidate's poster being torn around Banpo Shopping Town in Jamwon-dong.
In Ulsan, a police officer on patrol discovered a hole in the left eye area of the candidate's poster stuck on the sidewalk near the Polytech University in Jung-gu around 2 p.m. the previous day. On the same day, traces of a cigarette burn were found on the left eye part of the candidate's poster in Daldong, Nam-gu. On the 16th, posters of the candidate with either the entire face cut out or the facial areas damaged by cigarette burns were found in Dong-gu and Nam-gu, respectively.
The Suwon West Police Station reported that it received a report around 4:30 p.m. on the 17th about a campaign poster installed in Hwamaesil-dong, Gwonseon-gu, Suwon, being damaged. It is known that part of the candidate's face on the poster was torn off.
According to the Daegu Northern Police Station, a report was received on the 17th around 1:30 p.m. regarding the vandalization of the candidate's poster attached in Chilseong-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu. Upon inspection, it was found that the face portion of the poster was torn by a sharp object. At around 6:30 p.m. on the 16th, a resident discovered that a poster of Lee Jae-myung attached to the exterior wall in Namsan-dong, Jung-gu, was vandalized and reported it to the police.
According to the Jeonbuk Jeonju Wansan Police Station, a report was received on the 15th around 6:45 p.m. about the candidate's election poster attached in front of an apartment in Seosin-dong, Wansan-gu, Jeonju being vandalized. The police are analyzing nearby closed-circuit TV (CCTV) and believe that a middle school student damaged the poster.
The Jeju West Police Station received a report around 12:23 p.m. on the 18th about a presidential election poster that was vandalized near Nohyung Elementary School in Jeju City. Upon checking the scene, it was found that only the candidate's portion was damaged. Police analyzed closed-circuit TV (CCTV) footage and identified that two boys who appeared to be elementary school students vandalized the poster.
According to the Public Official Election Act, anyone who damages election posters or banners without just cause can face up to two years in prison or a fine of up to 4 million won. The National Election Commission is restoring damaged posters.