Martial law candidate Kim Hyun-tae cannot vote in his own election district

Kim Hyun-tae, a former commander of the Army's 707th Special Mission Group, who is running in the Incheon Gyeyang-eul parliamentary by-election, is unable to cast his vote in the constituency he is contesting. This situation arises because his registered address is located in the Gyeyang-gap district, not the Gyeyang-eul district where the election is taking place.

According to the National Election Commission's website, Kim's address is in the Gyesan 1-dong area, which falls under the Gyeyang-gap constituency. The Gyeyang-eul constituency comprises Gyesan 2 and 4-dong, Jakjeonseo-dong, and Gyeyang 1 to 3-dong. While candidates can run in a constituency regardless of their registered address, voting rights are restricted to residents of that specific electoral district. Most candidates typically move their registered address to the constituency they are running in.

Kim had previously stated his intention to vote on the main election day rather than during the early voting period. He is currently facing trial for charges of participating in a rebellion by leading troops during the December 12, 1979, martial law incident. He is running as an independent candidate in Incheon's Gyeyang-eul, a district formerly represented by Lee Jae-myung, with the stated aim of "overthrowing the Lee Jae-myung regime."

Following his dismissal from military service by the Ministry of National Defense in January, Kim has been active in far-right gatherings and YouTube broadcasts alongside YouTuber Jeon Kwang-hoon. He recently drew public anger by visiting the National Assembly, the site he allegedly infiltrated in 1979, and making remarks such as, "If I could go back to December 3, 2024, I would wear warmer clothes."

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If I could go back to December 3, 2024, I would wear warmer clothes.