Surpreme Court rules in favour of political pop artist

Surpreme Court rules in favour of political pop artist

Posted on : Dec.12,2015 12:30 KSTModified on : Dec.12,2015 12:30 KST

 

The poster by artist Lee Ha depicting former President Chun Doo-hwan holding a check for 290,000 won (US$250)

Lee Ha gets two year suspended sentence over poster that satirized former President Chun Doo-hwan

The Supreme Court said on Dec. 11 that it was upholding a court ruling issuing a suspended 100,000-won (US$85) fine to an artist accused of violating the Minor Offenses Act by putting up wall posters satirizing former President Chun Doo-hwan.

The sentence suspension system allows those accused of minor infractions to avoid punishment if two years pass without a sentence.

Political pop artist Lee Ha (real name Lee Byeong-ha), 47, was indicted for putting up 55 of the posters in the area around Chun’s residence in the Yeonhui neighborhood of Seoul early on the morning of May 17, 2012, the eve of the anniversary of the 1980 Gwangju Democratization Movement. The images showed Chun dressed in prison clothes and handcuffs and carrying a check for 290,000 won (US$250), which was all the money he said he had at time, despite his corruption while president from 1980-88.

A satirical image made by artist Lee Ha showing President Park Geun-hye dressed in hanbok, traditional Korean attire, in front of a sinking paper boat, representing the Sewol ferry.

After a summary indictment, Lee requested a formal trial in the hopes of being exonerated. During the first trial, he described his actions as “a legitimate attempt to realize artistic freedom” and claimed it was “unfair to punish that” as a minor offense.

The court in his first trial handed down a suspended sentence, arguing that artistic freedoms “may be restricted by law for the sake of ensuring national security, maintaining order, and ensuring public welfare according to the Constitution.” In a second trial, the court dismissed his appeal, arguing that “while [Lee’s] aims may be viewed as legitimate, it does not appear that no other means existed to achieve freedom of artistic and political ｅxpression.”

Lee called the decision by Justice Kim Yong-deok of the Supreme Court’s third division “an unfathomable ruling” that “does not recognize artistic freedom.”

“It troubles me to think that other people indicted on the same charge would receive a guilty ruling based on this standard,” he said.

A poster by artist Lee Ha titled “Elegant Resignation”, combining the faces of South Korean President Park Geun-hye and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Lee added that he planned to “continue constantly working in various ways to protect artistic freedom.”

Lee has faced trial a number of times over his performances, which have included scattering leaflets bearing images of politicians from the roofs of tall buildings. In June 2012, he was indicted for violating the Public Official Election Act by putting up 200 posters around downtown Busan likening then-presidential candidate Park Geun-hye to Snow White, but was ultimately found not-guilty by the Supreme Court. He has recently been on trial for violating the Minor Offenses Act by scattering 14,450 leaflets and putting up 30 stickers lampooning Park.

By Kim Ji-hoon and Heo Seung, staff reporters

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]

‘전두환 풍자 포스터’ 경범죄 유죄 확정

한겨레 등록 :2015-12-11 19:23수정 :2015-12-11 21:22

 

전두환 풍자 포스터. 이하 작품

대법원 3부(주심 김용덕 대법관)는 전두환 전 대통령 풍자 포스터를 담에 붙인 혐의(경범죄처벌법 위반)로 기소된 팝아티스트 이하(47·본명 이병하)씨에게 벌금 10만원의 선고를 유예한 원심을 확정했다고 11일 밝혔다. 선고유예는 가벼운 범죄의 경우 당장 형을 선고하지 않고 2년이 지나면 선고를 면제하는 제도다. 이씨는 5·18 광주민주화운동 기념일 전날인 2012년 5월17일 새벽에 전 전 대통령의 서울 서대문구 연희동 자택 일대에 풍자 포스터 55장을 붙인 혐의로 기소됐다. 포스터에는 전 전 대통령이 수의와 수갑을 착용한 채 29만원짜리 수표를 들고 있는 모습을 그렸다. 이씨는 약식기소되자 무죄 취지로 정식재판을 청구했다. 이씨는 1심에서 “예술의 자유를 실현하려는 것으로 정당행위였고, 이를 경범죄로 처벌하는 것은 부당하다”고 주장했다. 그러나 1·2심은 “목적은 정당한 것으로 볼 수 있지만 예술·정치적 표현의 자유를 위한 다른 수단이 없었다고 보이지도 않는다”며 선고유예 판결했다. 이씨는 이날 대법원 확정판결 뒤 “예술의 자유를 인정하지 않는 판결이다. 같은 혐의로 기소된 다른 사람들도 이 판결을 기준으로 유죄를 받게 될 것 같아 우려스럽다”고 밝혔다. 이씨는 2012년 6월 박근혜 당시 대선 후보를 백설공주에 빗댄 포스터 200여장을 부산 시내에 붙였다가 공직선거법 위반 혐의로 기소됐으나 대법원에서 무죄 판결을 받은 바 있다.

김지훈 허승 기자 watchdog@hani.co.kr