While the National Election Commission (NEC) left the main voting ballots to run out, they had prepared an ample supply of 23.9 million early voting ballots, which is more than double the actual number of voters. [Photo=Yonhap News]

When coincidences repeat, they are no longer coincidences but inevitabilities. And if those inevitabilities exclusively benefit one political faction, it is a orchestrated scheme disguised as coincidence—in other words, "manipulation."

The unprecedented shortage of main voting ballots that occurred during the June 3 local elections—a tragic event where sovereign citizens were turned away from polling stations, the heart of democracy, due to a lack of ballots—was dismissed by the National Election Commission (NEC) as a mere administrative error in demand forecasting, with a performative apology. However, once the curtain of that excuse is lifted, the underlying facts revealed are truly chilling and bizarre.

Early voting ballots were prepared in double the amount of actual voters

While the NEC allowed main voting ballots to run out, they had prepared an ample supply of 23.9 million early voting ballots, more than double the actual number of voters.

In particular, they stockpiled an overwhelming amount—a staggering 256.1% relative to actual voters—in Gwangju, the political stronghold of the left. On the other hand, the votes of the conservative base, who prefer main-day voting, were thoroughly suffocated by the physical barrier of a "ballot shortage."

This is a sophisticated imbalance: stuffing one pocket until it overflows while cutting a hole in the other. The NEC offers the shallow excuse that they prepared more because they had to cut rolls of paper on-site, but the public is not foolish enough to buy such a crude explanation at face value.

Even ballots for a 'constitutional amendment' referendum were prepared in advance

There is an even more chilling fact. The NEC had prepared to print 2.5 million ballots in anticipation of a national referendum on a "constitutional amendment" that had not even passed the threshold of the National Assembly plenary session.

This amendment, which included the "inclusion of the 5.18 spirit" and "strengthening of the National Assembly’s control over emergency martial law," was a political agenda driven entirely by the partisan interests of Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party. Ultimately, the NEC was budgeting for and jumping the gun on a matter destined to be discarded due to the People Power Party’s boycott.

What does this signify? It is perfect proof that the NEC, which should be an independent constitutional body, has not only gone beyond pandering to the giant ruling party but has downgraded itself into an "outsourced contractor" that handles the election planning for the Lee Jae-myung regime.

Despite this situation, some people still parrot the line that "election fraud is just a conspiracy theory." Do they need to see soldiers with rifles standing in polling stations shooting those who vote for the opposition before they acknowledge it as election fraud?

Election fraud is not limited to the 'Makgeolli' era

What on earth does it take for something to be considered election fraud? It is a misconception to expect the analog manipulation of the "Makgeolli election" era, where ballots were stuffed into boxes by the bundle. Election fraud in the 21st century comes with a highly sophisticated and administrative face.

The NEC exhausted main ballots while dumping resources into early voting and constitutional amendments. If anyone still insists that the NEC is not in cahoots with the Democratic Party in the face of this blatant double standard, it is either a matter of intelligence or a bankruptcy of conscience.

A game where the referee managing the rules wears the uniform of one team is not a game. The results produced there can no longer be called an election. It is merely a massive insult to democracy, wearing the skin of a vote.

◆ Park Ju-hyun, Author

A composer, music director, columnist, and essayist. They actively express their opinions on political, current, and social issues on Facebook, garnering sympathy from many. Author of the essay collection, "Crossing the Stormy Sea."