MBC's 'PD Notebook' will focus on the ballot shortages that occurred during the June 3 local elections and the various controversies surrounding the Election Commission.
The 1513th episode, titled 'Angry Voters – The Election Commission's Ballot Shortage Crisis,' airing on June 30, will explore the fallout and background of the ballot shortage incident that took place during the local elections on June 3.
At 26 polling stations nationwide, voting was halted due to a lack of ballots. Voters criticized the situation, stating, "It’s not that we didn’t vote; we couldn’t vote," leading to allegations of infringement on voting rights and highlighting the Election Commission's poor administration.
'PD Notebook' revisits the situation at the second polling station in Jamsil 7-dong, where voters unable to exercise their rights gathered in frustration. They later marched to the counting center at Olympic Park's handball stadium, demanding the restoration of their voting rights.
As the situation prolonged, the nature of the protests evolved. Initially focused on ensuring voting rights and holding the Election Commission accountable, the protests gradually included claims of electoral fraud and political slogans, according to the production team.
The extended standoff in Jamsil also led to practical repercussions. The Korean Sports Council faced administrative disruptions due to some participants being barred from entering the stadium, with economic losses estimated at around 6 billion won. Police and journalists at the scene faced insults and threats.
'PD Notebook' will also examine internal issues within the Election Commission that have been identified as contributing factors to the crisis. Former and current officials interviewed by the production team pointed to a dysfunctional organizational structure and lax budget management.
According to the public employee staffing chart released by the National Law Information Center, approximately 22% of the Election Commission's senior positions are at the 5th grade level or higher, which is higher than the National Tax Service's rate of about 8%. The production team investigates whether this high ratio of senior positions has led to a shortage of practical personnel and budget waste.
The controversy surrounding former Election Commission Chairman Noh Tae-ak's overseas trips will also be addressed. According to 'PD Notebook,' a total of 71.94 million won of Election Commission funds were used for Noh's nine-day trip to Europe in November 2024. A confidential document obtained by the production team included expenses for his wife's airfare, accommodation, and gifts, which were omitted from the official report.
Another trip to Denmark and Sweden in 2024 cost 90.53 million won and also included his spouse. Noh stated during a national investigation, "I didn’t have any particular doubts because it has always been done this way."
The production team found that employees frequently engaged in overseas trips under the guise of official duties. In the year leading up to the 2024 general elections, the Election Commission conducted over 30 overseas trips, with some destinations known to be tourist spots like the Maldives. The team will investigate the reality of these trips, which were justified as efforts to encourage overseas voting and study elections in advanced countries.
Allegations of hiring irregularities are also a major issue. A September 2023 audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection uncovered 878 cases of illegal or improper hiring practices within the Election Commission. The broadcast will cover instances where interview evaluation forms were altered, children of employees were selected without public disclosure, and allegations of hiring requests from senior officials.
'PD Notebook' will track a large-scale project that the Election Commission has pursued for many years. According to internal documents obtained by the program, the Election Commission has been working on a project worth approximately 30 billion won since 2010, involving three external contracts. The broadcast will examine the project's purpose, background, and whether adequate external oversight has been conducted.
The 1513th episode of 'PD Notebook,' titled 'Angry Voters – The Election Commission's Ballot Shortage Crisis,' will air today, June 30, at 10:20 PM.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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