Police report sharp increase in Election Law violations

National Election Commission officials sort out ballots for counting in the presidential election in Seoul, March 9. AP-Yonhap

Police said Thursday they had investigated 1,383 people for alleged violations of the Election Law in connection with this week's presidential election. Seven of them have been arrested and 75 transferred to the prosecution.

Yoon Suk-yeol of the opposition People Power Party (PPP) was elected president in Wednesday's closely fought race, beating out Lee Jae-myung of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).

Reflecting the highly divisive nature of the election, the number of suspected election offenders investigated by police increased by 427, or 44 percent, from the last presidential election in 2017, they said.

In particular, those involved in the alleged spread of false information jumped about fivefold to 496.

A total of 625 people were accused of damaging banners and posters while 66 were involved in alleged use of violence and 28 in premature electioneering.

Police detained seven people, including a man in his 70s who attacked DPK chief Song Young-gil with a hammer during a campaign event Monday.

Others were taken into custody on charges of obstructing campaigning, causing disruptions at polling stations and assaulting campaigners and election officials.

Police said they will handle the cases speedily given the statute of limitations for election violations is six months from the election day. (Yonhap)