The Special Prosecutor's team investigating the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections, led by Lee Tae-han, began verifying approximately 2.47 million ballots in Songpa District on October 28. However, due to disputes over allowing individual filming by observers, the verification work had not commenced by 11:15 AM.
The Special Prosecutor planned to start verifying the quantity and authenticity of the ballots at the Handball Stadium in Olympic Park, Seoul, at 9 AM. However, ongoing protests and negotiations regarding filming restrictions left personnel assigned to counting and tallying waiting for over two hours.
Kim Min-soo, a senior member of the People Power Party, urged, "Even if it takes an hour longer, please coordinate," requesting that some observers be allowed to film. Representative Jang Dong-hyuk also suggested that both the Special Prosecutor and the People Power Party conduct their filming, provided the footage is not taken outside.
Lee Tae-han stated that CCTV and video recording equipment were installed at the site and emphasized that individual filming is generally prohibited due to potential issues with the process and security. He assured that ballots subject to objections would be separately categorized and filmed for evidence collection, stating, "All observers have the right to raise objections."
Discussions between Deputy Special Prosecutor Park Hyuk and representatives of the People Power Party did not narrow the gap in positions. When Deputy Prosecutor Park asked, "Are you saying you don't trust the Special Prosecutor?" lawmaker Lee Jin-sook replied, "The public doesn't trust it. This is a Special Prosecutor created by the people."
Around 10:47 AM, about 20 members of the People Power Party, including Kim Min-jeon, moved outside the stadium, with some observers raising their voices, saying, "If filming is not allowed, let's withdraw."
Inside the stadium, there were 40 counting tables and 5 to 6 tally tables set up. Equipment such as counting machines, calculators, and thimbles were placed on the tables, while some verification staff waited with white rubber gloves on their left hands. As the wait extended, personnel were seen checking their phones or resting their heads on the tables.
Outside the stadium, participants holding Korean and American flags gathered, demanding a live broadcast of the verification. Some were dressed in padded jackets and hats, sitting on red plastic chairs or covering their knees with thermal blankets. By 9:20 AM, dozens of police officers were deployed at the entrance, and by 9:40 AM, the participants sang the national anthem.
A 40-year-old woman named Jo, who attended the gathering, criticized the presence of Election Commission staff, stating, "It's absurd to bring in Election Commission employees," and called for broader public participation and sufficient verification time. When asked if she would trust the results if no issues were found during verification, she replied, "That won't happen." Approximately 500 Election Commission staff assisted with ballot quantity verification, while the Special Prosecutor conducted the verification.
Jo Hyun-woo, representative of the Free Citizens Alliance, who participated in a joint statement, emphasized the need to verify the condition of the ballots and stated, "We must focus on ensuring the number of ballots matches the accurate voter list." Regarding the acceptance of verification results, he said, "If the citizen verification group and related organizations confirm and agree with the results, then we can trust it." He added, "We strongly urge and desire a fair investigation conducted according to principles."
The Special Prosecutor plans to check the sealing status of the ballot storage boxes before opening them to examine the total quantity and printing condition. Any irregular ballots will be categorized separately for detailed examination, with the initial inspection utilizing personnel and equipment from the police and the National Forensic Service.
To investigate any potential external breaches, the Special Prosecutor will review CCTV footage from the storage location. Related equipment, including ballot sorters, will also be collected to assess the possibility of hacking or errors, although the scope of the investigation may vary based on the ballot verification results.
The Special Prosecutor clarified that this verification is part of an investigative activity and does not constitute a recount under the Public Election Act that would affect the determination of elected officials or vote counts. The Special Prosecutor expressed a strong hope that this verification would serve as an opportunity to improve current election management issues and restore public trust in the electoral system.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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