[Opinion] Tainted Elections in the Land of Purity

Between Daegu and Miryang, where the Gyeongbu Highway passes through, is Cheongdo, North Gyeongsang province.

Those who have visited Cheongdo will only remember the abundantly clear blue sky, mountains and waters, and how its people resemble nature. As its name tells us, Cheongdo is the land of purity. Famous for the region’s bull fighting and its tradition of setting fires to sheaves of straw for a lucky new year on the lunar calendar’s 15th of January, Cheongdo is also known as a place from which the Hwarang spirit of the Shilla Dynasty and the Saemaeul Movement originated.

But today, Cheongdo is full of deep grief. This is because of the county mayoral reelection held on the same date as the presidential election last December. Two days before the election, resident Kim, 52, committed suicide by drinking toxic agricultural chemicals. On Jan. 6 another resident Yang, 57, killed himself in an orchard as he drank traditional Korean rice wine and a vitamin drink mixed with agricultural chemicals.

Both died after they were interrogated by the police on charges that they violated election laws while participating in the election campaign for candidate Jeong Han-tae, then incumbent county mayor. Kim was charged for giving out 50,000 won to 10 neighbors.

The election law stipulates that both those on the giving and receiving ends of money or other gifts during an election campaign must pay a penalty 50 times the amount they gave or received. The law has been in place since the 2004 general election. Kim and Yang may have realized too late about the existence of this law.

A Grand National Party official in the North Gyeongsang chapter said, “I can imagine that they were too naïve to lie to the police. Perhaps they felt great guilt since their neighbors, who probably were not familiar with the law, were now in trouble because of them.”

However, the person in Jeong’s camp who passed out around 40 million won to 16 constituents remains at large.

With this tragic election story bearing down on Cheongdo’s population of only 45,000, the police also finds itself in an awkward position. They have tried to reassure the population that, “If it is a criminal case or if one is indicted without detention, they would not pay the penalty.” But as too many residents have received the money, Cheongdo finds itself engulfed by remorse.

This reelection was held following the violation of election laws by two former county mayors. This tragedy must not replay itself in the upcoming general election in April.

Kim Chang-hyeok, Editorial Writer, chang@donga.com