Voter-shaming sparks post-election backlash

People Power Party municipal councilor Lee Dan-bee speaks during a meeting in Incheon, May 9. Courtesy of the Incheon Metropolitan Council

A seemingly innocuous social media post, Thursday, quickly spiraled into a heated online exchange, highlighting underlying tensions in Korean politics and society.

The initial message, posted by a 40-year-old identified only by his surname, Cha, linked the conservative Reform Party's recent presidential election performance — a disappointing 8.34 percent result — to its candidate Lee Jun-seok's Harvard academic background.

"Lee may have a prestigious academic background, but elections are tests in a democracy. So what was his score in the democracy exam?" Cha wrote, questioning the value of elite education in the democratic process.

The comment, however, quickly drew an unexpected response from Lee Dan-bee, a municipal council member in Incheon representing the conservative People Power Party.

"You didn't even go to a good school, right?" she retorted, shifting the focus from the presidential candidate's credentials to Cha's own.

What followed was a sharp escalation of the online dispute.

When Cha expressed disbelief that "someone like this is a city councilor," she fired back, "So how messed up was your life since your teens to end up like that?" The exchange culminated with Cha calling her behavior "unbelievable for a public official" and filing a police report. The council member, in turn, announced her intention to counter with a charge of false accusation.

The spat quickly sparked public outrage against the council member. Although she later apologized, the Incheon Metropolitan Council’s message board was soon flooded with calls for her expulsion.

“It’s upsetting and intolerable that a city council member would lash out at a citizen with such undignified remarks,” one commenter wrote.

Since the presidential election, disparaging remarks aimed at voters who supported opposing candidates have sparked a strong backlash, raising concerns about a deepening disregard for democratic values such as respecting dissenting views and honoring election outcomes.

Wang Hyun-soo / Captured from Jabsik Dinosaur YouTube channel

Wang Hyun-soo, who ran a food review YouTube channel with over 170,000 subscribers, recently deleted her channel amid a wave of backlash. The controversy stemmed from discriminatory remarks she made concerning South Jeolla Province.

On Thursday, Wang posted a screenshot on Instagram showing President Lee Jae-myung’s vote share in South Jeolla — an overwhelming 89.04 percent — accompanied by the caption, “This province has gone nuts.”

In Korea, South Jeolla Province has long been burdened by regional stigma, stemming from a history of political marginalization and enduring stereotypes that depict its residents as unsophisticated. While such views are rejected by most Koreans today, those who appear to endorse them often face swift public backlash.

Wang also shared a screenshot of another post that read, “If most people vote like that in the province, we really need to split the country. No need to live together.” The comment was widely condemned as furthering discriminatory sentiment against the region.

When one commenter called her out for insulting the province, she responded, “You from the province? Must’ve hit a nerve.”

As criticism mounted, Wang apologized and donated 5 million won ($3,672) to the May 18 Foundation, a nonprofit organization established to honor the victims of the 1980 pro-democracy movement in Gwangju, a metropolitan city that was formerly administered as part of South Jeolla Province.

Companies that had partnered with Wang also issued apologies.

Ice cream brand LalaSweet released a statement, Saturday, saying, “We do not support any form of discrimination or disparagement, and we take this matter very seriously.”

Experts say politicians must play a role in curbing politically aggressive language by setting an example and urging restraint.

“If those in power don’t take active steps, why would ordinary people feel the need to be responsible for their own political speech?” political commentator Kim Sang-il told The Korea Times.

“Swearing offers a cathartic release, which makes it easier for people to repeat such behavior. When people constantly use tough language against political rivals, it can easily escalate into violent clashes.”