A 63-year-old female pastor was booked without detention on Tuesday for violation of an election law.

Surnamed Choi, the pastor had spread fliers during the election period in April against candidates who had called for equal rights for homosexuals.

Those targeted by Choi for “defending and promoting” homosexuality include candidates who called for including homosexuals in an antidiscrimination law, and those who called for a revision of the military criminal act that would allow homosexuals in the military.

Choi is being accused of distributing over 190 fliers propagating hate against homosexuality and Islam on the day of the election on April 13 at an apartment complex in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.

Suwon District Prosecutor’s Office said 253 others are currently under investigation for possible breach of the election law.

Among elected lawmakers, 23 have been booked on election law violations.

Maliciously defaming candidates is illegal, as is damaging candidates’ official posters placed in designated public spaces. 

The 20th National Assembly of Korea opened its first session Monday.

The statute of limitations for the Public Official Election Act is six months from the day of the election. Prosecutors must conclude all investigations by Oct. 13.

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)