Korean campaign ‘bans’ voting in US

Officials of the National Election Commission hand out leaflets promoting overseas voters’ registration for the Dec. 19 presidential election to people at Incheon International Airport, Monday. / Yonhap

NEW YORK ― Management of a political campaign is already hard enough, but imagine running one that bans the mention of any candidate’s names, let alone the use of images that even hint at party affiliation. Sounds like some kind of reality show challenge?

It’s no show, it’s a challenge in reality. It’s how the Korean presidential campaign is run overseas.

“I don’t know if we should even call it a real campaign,’’ says Kang Jun-hwa, who heads the New York Democratic Conference and Global Koreans, a group that supports the liberal Democratic United Party (DUP). “It is impossible to carry out a legitimate campaign without putting forward the candidate’s name. I mean, really.’’

The upcoming December ballot is the first-ever presidential election allowing Korean citizens living abroad to vote. It is not only said to be historically significant, but considered a crucial bloc with more than 2 million eligible voters living away from home.

Despite all this, campaign activities are strictly regulated by the National Election Commission (NEC). Even typical campaign methods, including rallies, banners and flyers, are on the watch list.

So then what are campaigners left with?

Restricted online ads, telephone campaigns and commercials generated from a Korean satellite TV platform are the only three viable methods approved by the NEC.

“We can’t reach the crowd we want through these channels. We need to hold rallies, town hall meetings and other gatherings to go face to face with voters,’’ says Rhee Tae-young, a member of the Saenuri Abroad Southern California, an advocate group of the conservative Saenuri Party. “But at this point, we’re not even allowed to state outright which party we stand behind. It’s actually kind of funny.’’

Dozens of other Korean political advocacy organizations across the U.S. must follow the same set of rules to stay in the game, so what do they do?

Instead of going head-to-head on which candidate deserves a ticket to Cheong Wa Dae, campaigners have one simple, coherent message.

“Go out and vote. That’s the only message we can get across to voters at this time without breaking the law,’’ says Kang, who is in charge of the liberal club that campaigns in seven states, including Massachusetts, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.

Even at the group’s recent kickoff ceremony in New York, members of the main opposition DUP were present but no one dared to bring up a single candidate’s name, Kang added.

Violating the election law not only taints a candidate’s image, but also brings direct penalties to offenders.

According to the NEC, those who break the law are subject to a temporary ban from entering Korea, along with other restrictions.

But apart from the penalties, there’s a bigger reason why people are playing by the rules surprisingly well.

Many say they’re afraid illegal activities could take away their long-awaited right to vote.

“We’ve finally been given the right to cast a ballot in our home country’s election,’’ says Min Byung-ho, a political analyst and voting advocate based in New York. “The last thing we want is to have the NEC cancel the privilege due to reckless campaigning.’’

Skeptics criticize the overseas campaign system for being “irrational,’’ but most seem to go with it in hope of change coming in the future.

So as for now, whether you support Park Geun-hye of the ruling Saenuri Party, DUP’s Moon Jae-in or independent Ahn Cheol-soo, the campaign agenda is the same in the U.S.

“Everyone is emphasizing the same point. You’ve got to go out and vote. That is the only way to make our voice matter back in Korea,’’ says Kang of the democratic group.

“This kind of presidential campaign probably doesn’t exist anywhere on earth,’’ he said, “but we can call for a change only when our voice means something.’’ <The Korea Times/Jane Han>

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