A woman in her 40s, who was observing early voting for the 21st presidential election while draped in the American flag, was arrested in the act. The National Election Commission accused the woman of violating the Public Official Election Act.
According to Incheon Western Police Station on the 30th, a woman in her 40s, referred to as Ms. A, was apprehended on suspicions of violating the Public Official Election Act on the 29th. Ms. A is accused of wearing the American flag and participating in observation activities at an early voting site in Gajwa-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon, around 8:34 a.m. that day.
The polling officer present at the voting site at the time determined that Ms. A's attire constituted a 'symbol' that could influence the election, and issued an order to restrain and dismiss her. Article 166, Paragraph 3 of the Public Official Election Act stipulates that 'No one shall wear armbands, badges, etc., on election day in a way that could potentially influence the election.'
However, when Ms. A refused to comply, the election commission reported to the police, stating, 'There is an observer refusing the dismissal order.' The police, upon arrival, arrested Ms. A in the act.
The election commission's investigation revealed that Ms. A is an executive of a far-right organization that continues to claim election fraud. It is known that Ms. A proposed, through social media, that observers wear the American flag while monitoring early voting, alleging Chinese intervention in the election.
A police official said, 'Ms. A did not comply with the election commission's order to leave,' and added, 'We plan to investigate the details of the incident involving Ms. A.'