Election posters up: Defacers face stiff penalties, no excuses
Starting Thursday, official campaign posters for Korea’s presidential election are being displayed at over 82,900 locations nationwide, including the facades of buildings and walls in high-traffic areas frequented by voters. Election authorities warn the public that tampering with these posters, whether defacing, damaging or casually scribbling on them, is a criminal offense. They say such acts undermine voters’ right to information and compromise the integrity of the electoral process. Korea enforces stricter penalties than many other advanced democracies, and violators may face prosecution regardless of intent or motive. The legal basis for these penalties is found in Article 240 of the Public Official Election Act, which states: “Any person who, without just cause, interferes with the creation, posting, attachment, or installation of posters, banners, or other promotional materials — or damages or removes them — shall be subject to imprisonment of up to two years or a fine of up to 4 million won" ($2,871). Korean courts take a strict approach when interpreting the term “wi
