The special investigation team of the Election Commission, led by Lee Tae-han, has begun preparations for a detailed analysis of ballots that were contested during public verification of the June 3 local elections. Following the completion of on-site verification, the team aims to clarify any legal violations through scientific analysis while also addressing public distrust that emerged during the verification process.
According to legal sources on November 1, the special investigation team is analyzing approximately 700 ballots out of the 2.47 million ballots verified at the Olympic Park handball venue in Songpa, Seoul, on October 28-29. They plan to select ballots requiring detailed analysis and may request examinations from the National Forensic Service or the forensic planning officer at the prosecution headquarters as early as next week.
The ballots under scrutiny are expected to include those that show signs of damage or alteration. During the public verification, observers from the People Power Party raised concerns about ballots that appeared stiff without creases or had faint ink impressions.
However, raising objections does not automatically indicate the presence of forgery or illegal activities. Instead of sending all 700 ballots to an external agency, the special investigation team will conduct its own analysis to determine which ballots warrant further examination and will consider whether to pursue related investigations based on the findings.
Equipment related to the ballots will also be included in the detailed analysis. A representative from the special investigation team stated, "We will take follow-up measures to ensure that there are no lingering doubts regarding the ballots and related equipment deemed necessary for detailed analysis." They are also reviewing CCTV footage obtained during a search of the venue on October 27 to check for signs of external tampering.
Ballots that did not receive objections have been requested to be preserved in their current state by the Election Commission. These ballots have been moved to a separate location, managed under a controlled access system with CCTV and 24-hour security personnel. The special investigation team confirmed that investigators accompanied the ballots during their removal from the venue to oversee the unloading and storage process.
There is also growing interest in the follow-up investigation of former Election Commission Chairman Noh Tae-ak. The special investigation team has identified Noh as a suspect in a warrant related to dereliction of duty. Additionally, they conducted a search of his residence on October 21 to investigate allegations of overseas trips, seizing his mobile phone and other items. While there is speculation about a summons investigation following the analysis of the seized items, no specific timeline has been confirmed.
Additional allegations are expected to be submitted to the special investigation team. On the same day, People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo held a press conference at the National Assembly, claiming to have identified 85 instances where manual vote counting did not match electronic results across 57 locations during the 22nd National Assembly elections. He stated that related materials would be submitted to the special investigation team on November 2 at 3 PM. The cause of the discrepancies or any intentional false entries have yet to be confirmed.
Despite the public verification, debates surrounding the verification methods and evidence preservation continue. Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, expressed that while he does not entirely distrust the special investigation, he criticized the Election Commission's involvement in the verification process. He argued that the special investigation should have retained custody of the verified ballots. The special investigation team previously explained that Election Commission staff assisted in confirming the number of ballots, while the overall verification was conducted independently by the team.
Participants at the verification site also voiced the need for transparency in the verification process and the resolution of any doubts. On the day of the verification, October 28, attendees stated, "If live broadcasts are restricted, it will only increase suspicion and make it difficult to trust the entire verification process."
In the political arena, there are ongoing calls for regular updates on the investigation's progress. Lawmaker Joo urged for daily briefings to uphold the public's right to know. Previously, Kim Min-soo, a senior member of the People Power Party, also called for more frequent updates on the investigation's status. It is crucial to distinguish between verified facts and unverified allegations during the detailed analysis phase and to explain the subjects of analysis and subsequent procedures without hindering the investigation.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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