Once again, in this June 3 local election, shocking instances of suspected election fraud threatening the fairness of the vote and the integrity of the citizens' ballots have been confirmed. [Photo=Yonhap News]

Once again, in this June 3 local election, shocking instances of suspected election fraud threatening the fairness of the vote and the integrity of the citizens' ballots have been confirmed. 

A total of 49 reports of election irregularities were filed with the Anti-Election Fraud and Corruption Task Force (Bubangdae), and numerous reports via phone and email poured into , suggesting that the scale of fraud was significantly more severe than in previous elections. 

In this issue, we continue to report on cases of election fraud, following up on the last edition.

⑨ Following early voting, the number of main-day voters was also inflated by 15.7%

In the previous issue, we reported on cases where the number of early voters was inflated by more than 10% (refer to Part 1 ⑧, "Early voter count inflated by up to 10%"). However, on June 3, even during the main voting day, a phenomenon was captured where the number of voters physically verified by observers significantly differed from the figures presented by the election managers.

A tally sheet manually recorded by an observer, marking strokes for each voter. [Photo=Bubangdae]

At the 2nd polling station in Namgajwa 1-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, the number of voters meticulously hand-counted by an on-site observer was 593. Conversely, the official cumulative voter count stated by the election manager was 686, revealing a massive discrepancy of 93 people (15.7%). [Source=Bubangdae]

At the 2nd polling station in Namgajwa 1-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, the number of voters meticulously hand-counted by an on-site observer was 593. Conversely, the official cumulative voter count stated by the election manager was 686, revealing a massive discrepancy of 93 people (15.7%).

The observer stated that they checked the cumulative voter count with the election manager every 45 minutes. However, during this process, the election manager allegedly provided figures by looking only at their personal mobile phone screen, without even cross-verifying the serial numbers of the physical ballots issued (remaining inventory, etc.).

Bubangdae stated, "The electoral engineering theory—that artificially increasing voter turnout makes subsequent computerized manipulation and ballot matching easier—is being reenacted today at polling stations across South Korea," adding, "An election where physical voter counts and electronic records do not align is an election that has already lost its fairness and credibility."

⑩ Suspicion of unauthorized replacement of security seals in the local early ballot storage room

On May 30, the second day of early voting, circumstances suggesting the special security seals of the early ballot storage room—which should never be opened between the end of early voting and the start of the count—were replaced, were captured. Of the photos received by Bubangdae, the one on the left was taken at 1:30 PM on June 1. It shows differences in several aspects from the photo on the right, which was taken at 9:30 PM on May 30, the previous day.

Comparing the two seals shows different handwriting and different application patterns. [Photo=Bubangdae] 

Key differences include ① mismatched handwriting and ② changes in form. Even to the naked eye, the handwriting and character formation of the signatures on the seal at the time of application are clearly different from those on the following day. Additionally, unique crease marks, application positions, and anti-tamper markers on the seals do not match. It is suspected that the existing seals were damaged and replaced with new ones.

Bubangdae raised the possibility of unauthorized entry into the storage room and tampering with ballot boxes, stating, "After early voting closed on May 30, the ballot storage room is a sanctuary that should not be opened by anyone until the count on June 3. The change in the security seal implies that the storage room door was opened, suggesting the possibility that the ballot boxes inside were not safely preserved."

Furthermore, they stated, "In line with reports of 'inflated early voter counts' raised nationwide, there is a reasonable suspicion that someone may have accessed the storage room to match the physical ballots to the figures increased in the electronic system."

A single doubt can erode the credibility of the entire election. Moreover, in an election, the flower of democracy, the seal on a ballot box is the final bastion protecting the sovereignty of the voters. The election management authorities must immediately disclose the CCTV log records and entry logs for the storage rooms at those polling stations to clearly explain the circumstances under which the seals were replaced.

⑪ Ballots that were already stamped

Around 8:13 AM on May 29, the first day of early voting, a disturbance occurred at the early polling station in Naeson 2-dong, Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi-do, when ballots that had already been stamped were discovered. When observers raised an objection, the election manager stamped the ballots as "void" and inserted them into the ballot box.

A disturbance occurred after ballots that had already been stamped were discovered. When observers raised an objection, the election manager stamped the ballots as "void" and inserted them into the ballot box. [Photo=Bubangdae]

The election manager merely stated, "It is presumed to have been left behind by a previous voter." Does this mean the election manager did not even check whether the voter properly deposited their ballot into the box? The problem is that two or three more similar incidents occurred afterward. Is this even possible?

⑫ 71 "specimen" ballots printed at an early polling station

Around 2:40 PM on May 30, the second day of early voting, a report was received by Bubangdae that 71 "specimen" ballots had been printed at the early polling station in Hyeondeok-myeon, Pyeongtaek-si (Eul), Gyeonggi-do.

An objection form regarding the printing of specimen ballots. [Photo=Bubangdae]

Specimen ballots are sample forms produced and announced to inform voters in advance of the shape and specifications of the actual ballots to be used in the election. Although they are printed in the same shape as actual ballots, the word "Specimen" is clearly marked so they cannot be used for actual voting.

The specimen ballots printed that day included: △ 46 provincial council party-list ballots, △ 28 city council party-list ballots, △ 28 superintendent ballots, △ 29 national assembly by-election ballots, △ 27 Pyeongtaek city council ballots, △ 33 Gyeonggi-do governor ballots, and △ 32 Pyeongtaek mayor ballots.

The early voting manager became flustered by the unexpected situation and began to sort the ballots and specimen ballots, and the observer took out a camera. At that moment, the early voting manager stopped the recording and prevented them from taking photos. The observer filed an objection regarding these two issues.

⑬ Shutter lowered to prevent viewing of CCTV

Around 11:30 PM on May 30, the second day of early voting, an observer was monitoring the Gimpo-si Election Commission from the outside. A report was received that the shutters had been lowered to prevent anyone from seeing the CCTV, which would have helped in observing the situation at the Election Commission.

Furthermore, it is alleged that Election Commission staff and police officers asked for the observer's name and affiliation, and even warned them not to stay nearby. Bubangdae questioned, "What are they trying to hide by even lowering the shutters and chasing people away?"

⑭ First report of a shortage of ballots

At 6:10 PM on June 3, the first report of a shortage of ballots was received. The areas where this occurred included 8 locations: △ Munjeong 2-dong, 2nd polling station, Songpa-gu; △ Jamsil 2-dong, 6th polling station; △ Jamsil 7-dong, 2nd polling station; △ Jamsil 4-dong, 5th polling station; △ Garak 2-dong, 3rd polling station; △ Garak 2-dong, 7th polling station; △ Cheongdam-dong, 4th polling station, Gangnam-gu; and △ Guui 3-dong, 6th polling station, Gwangjin-gu. At the time, Bubangdae strongly protested to the Election Commission, stating, "You have infringed upon the right to vote."

⑮ Ballot boxes transported via private delivery truck

During the election period, individuals are not allowed to move ballot boxes, yet a case of illegal ballot box transport was caught. On the morning of June 1, in Yeongjong-gu, Incheon, a citizen discovered not just one, but multiple ballot boxes in the cargo bed of a private delivery truck on their way to work, and reported it to Bubangdae.

The Yeongjong-gu Election Commission was nearby. Ballot boxes traveling down the road in the bed of a delivery truck in plain sight during an election period... What on earth is going on?

Ballot boxes being transported in a private delivery truck in plain sight. [Photo=Bubangdae]

⑯ Voter turnout suddenly turns to '0'

There was an incident where the real-time turnout, which was increasing steadily on the National Election Commission's website, suddenly changed to '0'. Citizens who reported this were confused, saying, "I was watching the turnout, and the number suddenly changed to '0'," unsure if it was a computer error, a tallying error, or a system failure.

One citizen stated, "They must have been manipulating the 'ballot inflation' so much that the numbers didn't match up, so they reset it, right?" adding, "I'm so dumbfounded, I'm speechless."

⑰ Why does the number of 'mail + local early voters' keep changing?

On June 3, four days after early voting ended, cases were found where the number of 'mail + early voters' changed in real-time despite it being the main election day. Looking at the turnout status in Pyeongtaek on that day, the voter count, which was 92,074 at 4 PM, had increased by 6 to 92,080 an hour later at 5 PM.

Is it okay for the voter count to be changed like this even after it has closed? Candidate Hwang Kyo-ahn stated, "This happened in Pyeongtaek, where I ran for office," and "Do they still think today is early voting day? It is truly infuriating."

⑱ Did they know the local election results in China in advance?

This case is a famous incident widely discussed on social media. One of the two photos was uploaded to Chinese social media about a month ago, claiming it was the result of the Korean local election.

The photo on the right is the exit poll result of the local election on June 3. It is so identical that anyone would think a Chinese person used a time machine to know the results in advance and created it. How could something like this happen? Do they really possess a time machine?

⑲Security seal missing the election manager's signature

Security seal without election manager's signature [Bubangdae] At the counting station in Munheung 1-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju, a mysterious ballot box arrived without the election manager's signature on the security seal. While there is a signature on the side handle of the ballot box, the seal attached to the top opening of the ballot box only has the signatures of the observers, with no signature from the election manager.

How could this happen? Bubangdae stated, "This happens because they sign the seal stickers in advance and then apply them," and "This can only be seen as a trick by the Election Commission to prevent oversight."

In addition, they said, "A seal is supposed to be signed or stamped where it is sealed. Signing before it is even sealed is no different from signing a blank contract."

⑳Total voter count decreases as time passes!

A strange phenomenon was discovered where the total voter count decreased on the National Election Commission's voting status chart. On the main election day, June 3, at 5:05:30 PM, the voter count was clearly 25,617,541, but at 5:06:00 PM, it decreased by 110 to 25,617,431. Voter counts are supposed to increase over time; how could it decrease by 110 even after 30 seconds have passed?

Furthermore, an abnormal phenomenon where the tally stopped for about an hour occurred on the National Election Commission's voting status chart. As a similar event happened at a similar time during the previous June 3 presidential election, suspicions have arisen that this is a rebalancing phenomenon where the voter count is being arbitrarily adjusted.

㉑Incident of ballot box arriving with double-layered security seals

At the Guro-gu counting station in Seoul, a ballot box from the 6th polling station in Guro 3-dong arrived with double-layered security seals. On the night of June 3, when the counting was taking place, a ballot box with double-layered seals arrived at the Dongyang Mirae University counting center in Guro-gu, and the opening of the box was suspended.

The observer testified that only one seal was applied that morning. However, it is said that an observer from the Reform Party strongly insisted that no photos be taken of the morning process, so no photos were captured. Meanwhile, the Election Commission kept changing its story, saying, "They were applied in the transport vehicle," or "They were applied when they arrived at the counting center."

Ballot box with double-layered security seals [Photo=Bubangdae]

Reporter Im Yo-hee