A congratulatory message for a specific candidate appeared on a display screen at Taebaek City Hall in Gangwon Province the day before local elections, stirring controversy over alleged government interference in the vote. The opposition raised allegations of election manipulation after the message appeared on a public facility's screen before any results had been announced.
According to local political circles Wednesday, an electronic banner featuring a photo of People Power Party candidate Lee Sang-ho, who is running for Taebaek mayor, along with a flower bouquet image, was displayed on an indoor screen at Taebaek City Hall on Tuesday evening. The banner reportedly carried the message: "Congratulations on the election of Mayor Lee Sang-ho."
Once the incident became known, the Gangwon Province chapter of the Democratic Party of Korea issued a statement strongly condemning the display. The provincial chapter said posting a message on a public screen that treated a specific candidate's victory as a foregone conclusion — before the election had even concluded — undermined electoral fairness.
The provincial chapter also noted that a Taebaek city official had recently been reported to prosecutors for posting an interview article related to Mayor Lee on social media. It said the latest incident went beyond a simple mistake and deepened suspicions that civil servants had interfered in the election.
The Democratic Party's provincial chapter called on Taebaek City to investigate and disclose the circumstances behind the banner's posting, the decision-making process and the roles of those responsible. It also urged the city to review its standards for operating public communications channels and establish measures to prevent a recurrence.
The Democratic Party further called for a thorough investigation by the National Election Commission and law enforcement authorities.
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