Former National Assembly member Min Kyung-wook directly stated, "If there are suspicions, it is right to make them public to prove there are no issues. What the National Election Commission is doing now is merely a declaration that they will not reveal evidence of a crime." - Min Kyung-wook's Facebook

The National Election Commission (NEC) has designated itself as 'National Important Facility Grade A' and is moving to thoroughly defend its election servers and premises. 

It was recently revealed that the Ministry of National Defense approved the NEC's request to be designated as 'National Important Facility Grade A' this month. 

Currently, the facilities designated as 'National Important Facility Grade A' include the Presidential Office, the Presidential Residence, the Prime Minister's Official Residence, the National Assembly Building, the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court, the Government Complex Seoul, the Ministry of National Defense, the National Intelligence Service, the Bank of Korea Headquarters, and the Korea Minting, Security Printing & ID Card Operating Corp. 

'National Important Facility Grade A' is designated for important facilities whose occupation or destruction by an enemy is judged to have a critical impact on people's lives. 

With this approval, the NEC is now at the same level as the Presidential Office, the National Assembly Building, and the Supreme Court as a National Important Facility. 

The NEC specifically cited the protection of its election management system servers as the core reason, arguing that since these servers are key information and communication infrastructure, the entire building needs to be designated as a National Important Facility. 

Regarding this designation, some voices have expressed concern, stating, "On the surface, it is presented as 'strengthening security' and 'preventing intrusion,' but it is read as a declaration to more thoroughly seal off the core of the suspicions." 

Former National Assembly member Min Kyung-wook, who has continuously demanded an investigation into the truth of election fraud, also strongly criticized the move. 

Min directly stated, "If there are suspicions, it is right to make them public to prove there are no issues. What the NEC is doing now is merely a declaration that they will not reveal evidence of a crime." 

He added, "The controversy over election fraud that has overshadowed South Korean politics for the past several years is not a mere conspiracy theory. It is a warning that confidence in the national election system has collapsed. The more the NEC turns itself into a fortress, the greater the public's suspicion will become. The NEC can no longer ignore the fact that truth is proven by openness, not by defense." 

He emphasized, "Those servers will eventually be disclosed, and the truth will not disappear by being evaded." 

He also explained, "The essence of the problem is not external intrusion but internal verification. The allegations of election fraud raised by a majority of the public are not a demand to destroy or steal servers, but a demand to transparently disclose to the public the structure of the servers and the verification processes they underwent. In a democratic country, when suspicions arise, is it not the principle to respond with disclosure and verification? Despite this, the NEC has chosen to start with physical barriers such as increasing guard personnel, installing fences, and establishing a new security management team." 

Furthermore, he pointed out, "Although the NEC claims that 'election fraud is impossible and does not exist' and that 'it is impossible to manipulate because 500,000 people are watching,' now is the time to make efforts to prove that impossibility through verification in front of the public." 

Editorial Department, Hanmi Ilbo