People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo holds a press conference at the National Assembly on the 23rd, calling for the extension of the parliamentary investigation and the appointment of an independent counsel regarding allegations of false voter turnout entry by the National Election Commission (NEC). [Photo = Captured from Pen & Mike YouTube]

As the joint investigation team of police and prosecutors, which is investigating the ballot paper shortage during the June 3 local elections, launched a compulsory investigation after uncovering evidence of NEC staff making false entries regarding voter turnout and arbitrarily modifying electronic statistics, the People Power Party has begun demanding an extension of the parliamentary investigation and the appointment of an independent counsel for the NEC.

People Power Party lawmaker Joo Jin-woo held a press conference at the National Assembly on the 23rd, stating, "Evidence of voter turnout manipulation by the NEC has surfaced, leading to search and seizure operations on computer servers," and adding, "This is an entirely different phase from what we have seen so far."

Rep. Joo argued, "This is not a simple mistake but intentional computer manipulation," and added, "If this type of manipulation was possible, it means that the results and voter turnout statistics for nationwide elections must also be properly verified."

The joint investigation team raided the NEC headquarters in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, as well as the NEC offices in Seoul’s Songpa, Gangnam, and Seocho districts that morning. The search and seizure warrants reportedly specified charges of falsification of official electronic records and obstruction of official duties by deception.

The investigation team is examining circumstances where some NEC staff members allegedly entered incorrect voter counts for certain polling stations, and then attempted to balance the total figures by adjusting data from other polling stations without going through standard reporting and approval procedures.

It is reported that the joint investigation team has secured messenger chat logs discussing "number matching" along with evidence that staff arbitrarily modified statistical figures in the system and entered false turnout data to cover up their initial input errors.

Rep. Joo emphasized that a parliamentary investigation alone has limitations in uncovering the truth and that a separate independent counsel is necessary.

He stated, "We need to launch an independent counsel that is highly professional, not influenced by those in power, and not limited in its scope of investigation," adding, "The independent counsel must seize the computer servers and investigate the NEC's overall statistics input and computer operations."

The call for an "unlimited independent counsel" is interpreted not as a legal request for an indefinite investigation period, but as a demand that the scope of the investigation not be limited to the ballot shortage or the false entries of some staff, but expanded to cover the NEC's entire computer system and command-and-reporting structure.

Rep. Joo argued that since it will take time to launch an independent counsel, the activities of the Special Committee on Parliamentary Investigation should also be extended.

He said, "Evidence could be destroyed in the meantime," adding, "It is reasonable to extend the parliamentary investigation and launch the independent counsel so that both procedures proceed concurrently."

He also argued for the necessity of oversight via a parliamentary investigation, noting that the joint investigation team "cannot be completely free from the influence of the current administration's power, posing a risk that the investigation scope could be narrowed or limited."

The People Power Party leadership also pressured for an extension of the parliamentary investigation period.

Representative Jang Dong-hyuk stated, "Search and seizure operations are underway after evidence of false voter turnout entries by NEC officials was discovered," and added, "We must thoroughly uncover all problems that occurred during the local elections, even if it requires extending the parliamentary investigation period."

People Power Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo wrote on Facebook the same day, "Circumstances indicating that the NEC manipulated election statistics have been captured," and criticized, "If they even manipulated statistical figures to hide mistakes, it is a grave criminal act that shakes the foundation of liberal democracy."

Rep. Ahn argued, "The independent counsel for the NEC must conduct a full search of NEC servers," and added, "It is time for the government and the National Assembly to seriously consider the future and existence of the NEC."

Meanwhile, Rep. Joo also called for the resignation of Acting Chairperson Wi Chul-hwan and Acting Secretary-General Kang Dong-wan, who were standing members of the Central Election Commission at the time.

He said, "The two individuals who held key positions at that time bear direct responsibility and could become subjects of the investigation," adding, "An investigation cannot proceed while those in positions to manage the evidence remain in their acting roles."

Regarding the possibility of pursuing impeachment, he said, "It is something that needs to be discussed," and added, "If the two do not resign immediately, we will take necessary procedures, including impeachment."

However, the investigation details confirmed so far only concern the circumstances under which the number of voters and turnout statistics were falsely entered or arbitrarily modified. It has not been confirmed that any specific candidate's vote count was altered or that the election results were reversed.

The joint investigation team plans to analyze the seized materials and then summon the relevant staff to investigate the details behind the number modifications, whether there were orders or reports regarding them, and whether similar methods of statistical manipulation occurred in other regions.