Ballot boxes piled up haphazardly inside the handball stadium. [Source: Joo Jin-woo TV capture]

The National Election Commission (NEC), which should be the core body managing elections—the foundation of South Korea's liberal democracy—has long been branded as a "key culprit of election fraud."

The on-site inspection of the Olympic Park ballot box storage facility conducted by the Special Committee on Parliamentary Investigation today was abysmal. Everyone knows there should be 380 ballot boxes, yet the Songpa-gu Election Commission claimed there were 420. This is evidence that additional ballot boxes were introduced to match the NEC's own vote-counting statistics, and it is a criminal act that cruelly tramples upon the dedication of the young people in their 20s and 30s who have been silently guarding these boxes.

The reality witnessed on-site was even more shocking. CCTV cameras were pointed at blind spots, and the steel door of the storage facility lacked even a proper locking mechanism. The Special Committee showed its incompetence by accepting the NEC's excuses without even bothering to verify the seals on the ballot boxes.

This is nothing more than "accomplices touring a crime scene," showing no intent to uncover the truth, and is merely a superficial investigation meant to deceive the public.

Therefore, we suspect the NEC is systematically destroying evidence to escape this crisis, and we strongly demand the following:

First, the Special Committee must immediately ensure the effectiveness of its on-site investigations.

If the Special Committee wishes to avoid the severe judgment of the people, it must immediately order the physical lockdown of the ballot box storage facility. Cease the performative act of merely listening to the NEC’s excuses, and conduct a transparent, high-intensity on-site investigation that the public can find credible.

Second, immediately prohibit the NEC from accessing the ballot boxes and physically isolate them.

The current discrepancy in the number of ballot boxes proves that the NEC itself is a subject of investigation. Allowing individuals suspected of criminal activity to freely enter and exit areas containing evidence provides an opportunity for the destruction and tampering of such evidence.

The fact that 380 boxes transformed into 420 is conclusive evidence of "ballot box swapping" or "unauthorized insertion." As long as these suspicions remain unresolved, the NEC's access to the site only deepens public distrust.

The absence of locks and the presence of CCTV blind spots reveal the NEC’s total management failure. Entrusting site control to those who have neglected their duties is the greatest obstacle to a fair investigation.

The Special Committee must immediately and physically isolate all NEC personnel from the storage facility and strip them of access rights. The NEC must immediately transfer control of the ballot boxes to the Special Committee and a public observer group; they should have no further role other than offering a declaration of conscience.

The absurd situation of "letting the cat guard the fish" and allowing suspects to destroy evidence must end today.

Third, verify the integrity of the ballot boxes and potential for unauthorized additions before any recount.

A recount conducted while fundamental suspicions remain unresolved is highly likely to be abused as a means to conceal evidence of fraud. If the integrity of the ballot boxes is not guaranteed, the ballots inside cannot be trusted either. Conduct a full verification of the following before any recount:

Together with experts and the citizens' observer group, conduct a full inspection of every ballot box for signs of seal tampering or issues with the management official's stamp. Unnatural traces, such as peeling tape, serve as proof that the ballot boxes have already been opened.

Cross-reference official counting statistics with the serial numbers of the ballot boxes on-site, and identify the source and path of the 40 discrepancy boxes through logistics records and CCTV footage.

Check for artificial alignment of ballots upon opening the boxes. Ballots that are perfectly flat or aligned in a specific direction are a "smoking gun" proving they were re-inserted at the storage facility.

Ballot boxes are a sanctuary holding the truth of our democracy. We solemnly warn that any recount conducted without performing the aforementioned preliminary verification procedures will be considered null and void from the start. We will guard the site until the ballot boxes are completely preserved.

July 2, 2026

Seobeokka 64 Save-the-Nation Comrades Association