People Power Party Representative Joo Jin-woo [Photo = Yonhap News]People Power Party Representative Joo Jin-woo pointed out that the 'translucent local early voting ballot boxes,' which caused controversy during the June 3 local elections, were supplied by a company owned by the family of a former National Election Commission (NEC) official, and that this company had been awarded contracts worth 17 billion won by the NEC. 

During the first hearing of the National Assembly's Special Committee on Investigation, Representative Joo raised these allegations, labeling them as a "NEC-fia cartel," and called for a special counsel investigation on the 14th.

According to data secured by Representative Joo from the NEC and other sources, three companies associated with an individual identified as 'A,' a former head of the Political Party Division at the NEC, along with A's spouse and son, signed a total of 103 contracts with the NEC. Of these, 90 were private contracts, amounting to a total value of 17.5 billion won.

It was found that a company headed by this former official (with only three employees) signed contracts worth billions of won with the NEC and supplied the translucent local early voting ballot boxes that sparked controversy in the recent election.

In the case of Company B, where 'A' serves as CEO, the firm signed 66 contracts worth a total of 2.9752 billion won with the NEC despite having only three employees. This company also supplied the ‘translucent local early voting ballot boxes’ that were at the center of the controversy in the June 3 local elections.

Company C, where 'A's spouse serves as CEO, signed 9 contracts with the NEC worth a total of 409.45 million won. Of these, 8 were private contracts. Companies B and C were located in the same building on the same floor, and 'A' even served as an auditor for Company C.

Furthermore, Company D, in which 'A' participated as an executive director, signed 28 contracts with the NEC, totaling 14.16858 billion won. It was found that 18 of these were private contracts.

In addition, Representative Joo stated that he would verify whether the ballot boxes were outsourced for low-cost production in China by examining import costs and customs clearance data.

Reporter Lim Yo-hee