Attorney Kwon Oh-yong (center) and plaintiffs Hwang Na-yeon (left) and Song Eun-sook (right) hold a press conference in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 17th. / Photo = Captured from the YouTube channel 'Korea Dream News'.

Officials from the National Election Commission (NEC), including Noh Tae-ak, have been collectively sued in connection with allegations of "election fraud" that took place in Seongbok-dong, Suji-gu, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do, during the June 3rd presidential election—the results of which election authorities declared Lee Jae-myung the winner.

Under the current system, following the adjustment of investigative powers between the prosecution and police led by the Democratic Party of Korea, complainants have no further means to challenge a case if the police close it as "no suspicion." However, by filing a formal criminal complaint (as opposed to a report), there remains an opportunity to seek the truth by filing an objection with the prosecution even if the police conclude the case without referral.

Accordingly, this legal action is interpreted as a long-term, strategic move by the plaintiffs to ensure that the allegations of election fraud are legally contested to the end, thereby creating a public record that will serve as a historical account and a basis for future legal punishment.

Attorney Kwon Oh-yong, who has been leading a campaign to uncover election fraud, and plaintiffs Hwang Na-yeon and Song Eun-sook, who served as early voting observers in Seongbok-dong during the June 3rd presidential election, held a press conference at 1:30 PM on the 17th in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul. They claimed that "election fraud was perpetrated in the June 3rd presidential election" and filed a complaint against NEC Chairperson Noh Tae-ak, Secretary-General Kim Yong-bin, and others with the prosecution.

In addition to the two aforementioned officials, the plaintiffs also filed a complaint on behalf of the public against the NEC Deputy Secretary-General, the chief of the Suji-gu Election Commission's guidance department, and the voting administrator regarding the alleged fraud during the June 3rd election.

Attorney Kwon, who provides legal counsel for the New Party of Freedom and Innovation (led by former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn), explained the origin of the case at the press conference: "The plaintiffs were serving as early voting observers when they discovered a ballot already marked for Lee Jae-myung inside an out-of-district early voting envelope. They reported it, but the NEC instead framed it as a 'staged incident' by the reporter."

"Although the reporter was cleared of difficulty after picketing and the incident was reported by the media and foreign press, the suspicions of election manipulation were widespread nationwide. This explains how election results could be overturned, where a candidate wins in the actual day-of voting but sees a large reversal in the early voting results," he argued.

Attorney Kwon noted, "Currently, the judiciary, police, and prosecution are not properly investigating election fraud." He stated the purpose of filing the complaint: "We must leave a record so that when the country is set straight and history is corrected, those involved can be held accountable. We have submitted this complaint along with the evidence."

A relay picket protest is being held in Suji, Yongin, to protest the NEC's actions. / Photo provided by Hong Mi-ran, CEO of Ruidacorp, production company of the film 'Is Election Fraud a Divine Work?'.

Plaintiff Hwang Na-yeon said, "During the June 3rd presidential election, I served as a voting observer for the first time. I reported it when a ballot marked for Lee Jae-myung came out of an envelope during the out-of-district early voting process. Although the case I reported was closed by the police as a simple mistake by an election official, there were many suspicious circumstances and unexplained details in the process that made it impossible to just brush it aside."

She continued, "I believe there are more facts that need to be clarified regarding the NEC's official position that it was a 'staged incident.' I hope this will serve as a record for future election reform and the eradication of election fraud, and be written as a page in history."

Song Eun-sook, who also served as an observer, emphasized, "Four of us filed a complaint with the Suwon District Prosecutors' Office, and after the case was transferred, I underwent six hours of questioning as a complainant at the police station under the jurisdiction of the Seo-bu District Prosecutors' Office."

She added, "I never once thought it was difficult while doing one-person protests for this cause. That is because we can do anything for the people we love." Song shared her intent to testify honestly about what she saw and heard during the investigation, saying, "Since I awakened, I have truly come to love the Republic of Korea and our people. I am grateful that I could witness injustice firsthand for six hours at the site and continue to speak out as a one-person protest speaker."

Previously, on May 30th, when early voting for the June 3rd presidential election was taking place at the Seongbok-dong Community Center in Suji, Yongin, a commotion occurred when police were called after a female voter discovered a ballot already marked for Lee Jae-myung folded inside the return envelope provided by the NEC. As the NEC attempted to label the incident as a "staged act," waves of protests erupted nationwide.

A rally protesting the NEC's actions was held in Suji, Yongin, last summer. / Photo provided by Hong Mi-ran, CEO of Ruidacorp, production company of the film 'Is Election Fraud a Divine Work?'.

Reporter Heo Gyeom