Park Ji-won is a writer for The Korea Times who has been covering a wide range of topics from Korea’s culture to its politics. An avid journalism enthusiast to the core, Ji-won brings a thoughtful and unique perspective to every topic she covers. On weekends, you'll often find her contemplating life’s purpose on a yoga mat — with a cup of quality tea in hand. A native Korean speaker by birth and fluent in English through her work, she went to college in Japan and is learning Chinese and French — hoping to add Polish, Russian and Thai to the mix.
K League club angry at LKP electioneering at stadium
Liberty Korea Party (LKP) Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn raises his hands in a move to support the election campaign of the party's by-election candidate Kang Ki-yoon, right, at Changwon Football Center, Saturday. Courtesy of LKP
By Park Ji-won
By Park Ji-won
Gyeongnam FC has called for an apology from the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), Monday, for conducting illegal election activities at a K-League game at its stadium last Saturday.
After the controversy erupted, the party said it was not aware of related rules. However, the football club said it had warned that any election campaigning inside the stadium violated K-League rules banning political activities.
“The party ignored our warning and went ahead with what they prepared. This was disgraceful, and we want an apology,” the club, based in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, said in a statement.
The K-League will decide soon whether to refer the matter to its disciplinary committee, according to K-League officials. The club is expected to be punished for its failure to stop the political action.
“If we are punished, all LKP members involved will have to take moral and legal responsibility for the harm they did to the citizens of Changwon and our fans,” the statement said.
LKP Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn and the party's candidate running in the April 3 by-election, Kang Ki-yoon, appealed for votes at the stadium. Kang's campaign officials were also there. They all wore campaign jackets.
The club insisted that it informed party officials of the rules.
“Our security guards warned Hwang and LKP campaigners to take off their campaign jackets, but they ignored the warning and entered the stadium,” a club official said. “Some campaigners entered the stadium even without buying tickets, bypassing ticket inspectors.”
The political activity was contrary to K-League and Korea Football Association rules, the club said.
Under the rules, any political activities and all kinds of discriminatory behavior and words are strictly prohibited inside the stadium. People inside the stadium cannot wear clothing displaying a candidate's number and name, or the party's name and emblem.
The rules also prohibit people from distributing pamphlets or name cards containing political messages, a party's name or the names of candidates.
However, an LKP statement said the National Election Commission had given permission for party officials to enter the stadium wearing campaign jackets. The LKP also insisted that Hwang, Kang and their aides did not know the K-League rules, and immediately followed Gyeongnam FC's instructions. It also insisted all campaigners bought entrance tickets.
Other parties accused the LKP members of unscrupulous behavior, and urged the party to apologize.
“The LKP said it didn't know the rules. However, based on the statement of Gyeongnam FC, the LKP lied about the situation,” Rep. Park Ju-min of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea said during a party meeting Monday.
“The party might have thought that only winning matters in the election. I hope it makes an apology in front of people from South Gyeongsang Province.”
Rep. Ha Tae-Keung of the Bareunmirae Party said, “The person who made a mistake should be punished. I will do my best to ensure Hwang and the LKP face punitive measures.”