On October 28, a special investigation team began verifying approximately 2.47 million ballots stored at the handball stadium in Olympic Park, Seoul, prompting varied responses from political leaders.
Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, held a press conference outside the handball stadium, urging the special investigation team to ensure that "no doubts remain" and to properly safeguard the rights of observers. He emphasized the need for thorough and fair verification.
Members of the Democratic Party of Korea, part of the National Assembly's Administrative Safety Committee, also gathered near the handball stadium, calling for a comprehensive investigation into the allegations raised thus far. They insisted that verification should be conducted based on objective facts and evidence, free from any external pressure or political considerations.
While both parties agreed on the necessity of objective and fair verification, subtle differences in their underlying messages were evident.
Jang noted, "It has been 145 days since citizens gathered at Olympic Park to defend their voting rights, and the recount begins today. I thank the citizens who have protected Olympic Park during this time," referring to the citizens' initiative as the "People's Special Investigation." Jang, who frequently visited Olympic Park during the early days of the protests, successfully pushed for the special investigation into the Central Election Management Commission, highlighting the issue raised by a minority opposition party.
In contrast, the Democratic Party members clarified that the purpose of the verification is not to reassess the election results but to confirm the allegations of electoral fraud with objective facts and evidence. They also pledged to address any issues in election management and cautioned against the escalation of the situation, emphasizing that this should mark the end of the prolonged occupation of the handball stadium.
Political analysts suggest that the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections has significantly altered the political landscape, leading to the protests at Olympic Park and the subsequent special investigation.
Jang, who faced instability within his party before the local elections, has reportedly strengthened his support base among conservative factions, particularly among younger voters in their 20s and 30s. The youth who led the protests at Olympic Park have begun to make their voices heard, prompting political parties to enhance their efforts to represent young people's interests.
For instance, the People Power Party's External Cooperation Committee launched the Youth Sovereignty Forum to create a platform for young people to raise issues and bring them into the political arena. On the previous day, Kim Jang-gyeom, the committee chair, held a press conference with the forum at the National Assembly, emphasizing the importance of upholding the principles of separation of powers and the rule of law.
In response, the Democratic Party established the "1030 Youth Policy Committee," a direct organization under the party leadership to discuss legislative and budgetary matters related to youth policies. Additionally, they are preparing a youth civic party office in Mapo-gu, Seoul, designed as a space for young people to freely express their opinions and for the party to develop related policies.
Meanwhile, the special investigation team, led by Lee Tae-han, began the verification of the 2.47 million ballots and related materials, including on-site CCTV footage. The verification commenced around 11:50 a.m., over three hours later than planned, due to disputes between the ruling and opposition parties regarding the team's policies and procedures.
Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, held a press conference outside the handball stadium, urging the special investigation team to ensure that "no doubts remain" and to properly safeguard the rights of observers. He emphasized the need for thorough and fair verification.
Members of the Democratic Party of Korea, part of the National Assembly's Administrative Safety Committee, also gathered near the handball stadium, calling for a comprehensive investigation into the allegations raised thus far. They insisted that verification should be conducted based on objective facts and evidence, free from any external pressure or political considerations.
While both parties agreed on the necessity of objective and fair verification, subtle differences in their underlying messages were evident.
Jang noted, "It has been 145 days since citizens gathered at Olympic Park to defend their voting rights, and the recount begins today. I thank the citizens who have protected Olympic Park during this time," referring to the citizens' initiative as the "People's Special Investigation." Jang, who frequently visited Olympic Park during the early days of the protests, successfully pushed for the special investigation into the Central Election Management Commission, highlighting the issue raised by a minority opposition party.
In contrast, the Democratic Party members clarified that the purpose of the verification is not to reassess the election results but to confirm the allegations of electoral fraud with objective facts and evidence. They also pledged to address any issues in election management and cautioned against the escalation of the situation, emphasizing that this should mark the end of the prolonged occupation of the handball stadium.
Political analysts suggest that the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections has significantly altered the political landscape, leading to the protests at Olympic Park and the subsequent special investigation.
Jang, who faced instability within his party before the local elections, has reportedly strengthened his support base among conservative factions, particularly among younger voters in their 20s and 30s. The youth who led the protests at Olympic Park have begun to make their voices heard, prompting political parties to enhance their efforts to represent young people's interests.
For instance, the People Power Party's External Cooperation Committee launched the Youth Sovereignty Forum to create a platform for young people to raise issues and bring them into the political arena. On the previous day, Kim Jang-gyeom, the committee chair, held a press conference with the forum at the National Assembly, emphasizing the importance of upholding the principles of separation of powers and the rule of law.
In response, the Democratic Party established the "1030 Youth Policy Committee," a direct organization under the party leadership to discuss legislative and budgetary matters related to youth policies. Additionally, they are preparing a youth civic party office in Mapo-gu, Seoul, designed as a space for young people to freely express their opinions and for the party to develop related policies.
Meanwhile, the special investigation team, led by Lee Tae-han, began the verification of the 2.47 million ballots and related materials, including on-site CCTV footage. The verification commenced around 11:50 a.m., over three hours later than planned, due to disputes between the ruling and opposition parties regarding the team's policies and procedures.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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