A screenshot of a mobile phone video taken at 4:11 PM on November 12, 2021, showing the backs of three court bailiffs (circled in yellow) entering the courthouse after smoking, as they discussed, “The NEC is moving ballot papers into a car.” [Photo by Reporter Heo Gyeom]

The audio recording released by the Hanmi Ilbo YouTube channel, in which reporter Heo Gyeom documents “circumstances surrounding the NEC’s removal of ballot papers,” is causing a significant stir.

The YouTube Short titled “[Exclusive] Hanmi Ilbo’s Heo Gyeom: ‘First Disclosure of NEC Election Fraud Recording,’” released by Hanmi Ilbo on the 2nd, includes a segment from the “Election Fraud End-Game Debate” held on February 27, where attorney Park Joo-hyun mentioned the issue, along with the contents recorded by reporter Heo Gyeom at the Goyang Branch Court on November 12, 2021, at 4:11 PM, during the recount for the Paju-eul district of the April 15 general election.

At the time, the three court bailiffs were smoking and engaged in a conversation: “The NEC is moving ballot papers into a car,” “They are moving ballot papers for election fraud here,” “That car looks like sh*t,” “Hey, where are you going?” and “Hey, there are two cars coming behind the main building, hehe.” The content was clearly audible to anyone who heard it.

During that debate, attorney Park Joo-hyun released data from an article written by reporter Heo Gyeom in 2023, but was unable to release the 2021 recording at the time.

Lee Jun-seok demanded that the recording be played if it existed; consequently, reporter Heo Gyeom, representing this newspaper, provided the file he had in his possession to the Hanmi Ilbo YouTube team, leading to this “exclusive release.”

Reporter Heo Gyeom testified: “At the time, there were other court employees smoking between the three bailiffs and me, so I couldn't record from close range. Even as the three were walking away, cars were continuously entering and exiting the parking lot in front of the smoking area, making filming difficult, and I was only able to capture them on video just before they entered the building. The three were wearing winter court bailiff jackets. One was over 185cm tall, and the other two are estimated to be around 175cm. At least one of them was using an iPhone. Given that one of the bailiffs was wearing white sneakers, it is possible they were either before or after their shift. Bailiffs usually wear dress shoes while on duty.”

Reporter Heo Gyeom added, “The reason this video is significant is that at the time of the Paju-eul district recount, allegations of ‘wholesale replacement’ (replacing the entire ballot box with fake ballots) were widespread because ballots missing the management officer’s seal—as required by the voting log—were not actually found. This recording marks the first time a journalist has captured and recorded a conversation where court bailiffs appeared to have witnessed someone tampering with ballot boxes on the morning of the recount.”

As the issue of election fraud gains public attention, this video released by the Hanmi Ilbo YouTube channel has recorded 30,000 views within half a day and is being widely shared.

At the election fraud debate on the 27th, attorney Park Joo-hyun released data from an article written by reporter Heo Gyeom in 2023, but was unable to release the 2021 recording. Lee Jun-seok demanded that the recording be played, and reporter Heo Gyeom, the representative of our newspaper, provided the file he held to the Hanmi Ilbo YouTube team, leading to this “exclusive release.” [Screenshot from PenNMike YouTube]

◆ YouTube Video Link: [Exclusive] Hanmi Ilbo’s Heo Gyeom: “First Disclosure of NEC Election Fraud Recording”

Reporter Lim Yo-hee