The Freedom and Innovation Party has filed a mass lawsuit against election officials who used 'fake stamps' in the June 3rd presidential election. (Photo in the middle) A collection of circumstantial evidence of fake ballots from the 21st presidential election on June 3rd, compiled based on reports from observers.

"Legal responsibility for election officials is 10 years"... Election Crime Watchdog Group files against election officials in 250 local governments nationwide

Violation of the Public Official Election Act requiring the use of 'one's own stamp'... charges of dereliction of duty and obstruction of the exercise of official duties

Lawsuit notifications and warnings of illegality sent to 230 basic local councils and approximately 3,500 eup, myeon, and dong offices nationwide

Exposing the National Election Commission's 'fake stamp' guidelines... "We will hold them accountable to the end, as the statute of limitations for election crimes by public officials is 10 years."

The Election Crime Watchdog Group of the Freedom and Innovation Party (Representative Wi Geum-sook, hereinafter referred to as the "Watchdog Group") announced on the 22nd that it has filed a lawsuit with the police against some absentee ballot election officials and election officials in approximately 230 local governments nationwide. These officials used 'fake stamps' manufactured and distributed by the National Election Commission (NEC) and collected after voting hours, instead of their 'personal stamps (signatures)', on ballots during the June 3rd presidential election (21st presidential election) last year. They are charged with 'dereliction of duty' and 'obstruction of the exercise of rights through abuse of power'.

Illegality of the NEC's 'fake stamp' in disregard of legislative intent... "Undermining election integrity"

Articles 157(2) and 158(3) of the Public Official Election Act stipulate that election officials and absentee ballot election officials must affix 'their own stamp (signature)' when issuing ballots. This is a legislative command to prevent election officials, who manage ballots and ballot boxes, from creating fake ballots and to fundamentally block fraudulent intervention by having the individual official's stamp guarantee the authenticity of the ballot.

However, the Watchdog Group revealed that the NEC, citing the subordinate guideline 'Manual for Public Official Election Procedures', forced local government officials to use so-called 'fake stamps' that are centrally produced, distributed, collected, and destroyed by the NEC, rather than their personal stamps.

A representative of the Watchdog Group emphasized, "The moment the stamps produced and collected by the NEC are used, it breaks the legislative intent that the entity managing personal stamps (election official) and the entity managing ballots and ballot boxes (NEC) should check each other. By producing and managing stamps, the NEC has opened the door to creating fake ballots, which signifies the collapse of election integrity."

In addition, the Watchdog Group attached photos of fake ballots from the June 3rd presidential election to its official notice to sound a warning to public officials.

Lawsuit notification sent to approximately 4,000 organizations nationwide... "Stop being mere henchmen for the NEC"

To provide practical deterrence in administrative areas, the Watchdog Group sent official notices to approximately 230 basic local government councils and about 3,500 eup, myeon, and dong offices nationwide, informing them of the lawsuit.

In the notice, the Watchdog Group warned, "Colluding with the NEC's illegal guidelines and neglecting legal obligations is an act that threatens the democratic system," and strongly urged officials to bring and personally affix their designated personal stamps in future elections as stipulated by law.

Statute of limitations for election crimes by public officials is 10 years... "Will you live with a 10-year time bomb?"

The Watchdog Group made it clear that this lawsuit is not a one-time event. According to Article 268(3) of the Public Official Election Act, while the statute of limitations for general election offenders is six months, the statute of limitations for election crimes committed by public officials in connection with their duties is 10 years. This means that election officials can be subject to legal proceedings at any time for the next 10 years.

NEC's cooperation letter to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety... "Irresponsible behavior pushing public officials into a death trap"

The Watchdog Group expressed outrage, stating, "The NEC's request for the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to send a letter to local government officials stating 'it is lawful, so rest assured' (Figure 1) is an irresponsible act that pushes public officials appointed as (absentee) ballot election officials into a death trap." They added, "Guiding them to prioritize the subordinate guideline 'Manual' over the superior Public Official Election Act is equivalent to systematically instigating dereliction of duty among public officials."

Furthermore, they pointed out that the NEC's official notice stating, "We have taken immediate action in consultation with the National Police Agency," is evidence of undue interference with judicial procedures and external pressure on investigations, clearly revealing the NEC's tyrannical and unchecked actions that undermine the separation of powers.

The NEC's official letter to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety requesting cooperation for the continued use of the NEC's 'fake stamp'.

Possibility of overturning precedents and emphasis on independent accountability of election officials

In conclusion, the Watchdog Group reiterated that subordinate regulations formulated by the NEC (Rules for Public Official Election Management, Manual for Public Official Election Procedures, Manuals, etc.) cannot take precedence over the Public Official Election Act.

In particular, they pointed out that **Supreme Court precedents can be overturned at any time if there is a clear violation of laws and regulations**, and strongly urged, "According to the NEC's own regulations, stamps are to be 'provided upon request by public officials.' Therefore, for the safety of public officials, please comply with the Public Official Election Act by personally affixing your 'personal stamp' that you regularly use."

A representative of the Watchdog Group stated, "We plan to continue holding public officials who participated in illegal election practices legally accountable until election transparency is secured."

Cooperation Letter Sent to Eup, Myeon, and Dong Offices Nationwide

Please Protect the Future of Our Children.

Hello, Chairperson (or Esteemed Member).

We are the Election Crime Watchdog Group, working for fair and transparent elections.

We are writing to you with deep concern, knowing that you cherish the values of democracy and are always concerned about the future of our nation.

Do you know how our polling stations are currently being operated?

Currently, the NEC is instructing absentee ballot election officials and election officials to use so-called 'fake stamps' which are centrally produced and distributed by the NEC and collected after polling hours, instead of their 'own stamps'. In particular, for absentee voting, a fake stamp image saved on a computer is printed along with the ballot paper. This is a clear violation of the Public Official Election Act.

The 'personal stamp direct imprint' by election officials, as stipulated in the Public Official Election Act, is not a mere procedural step. It is the minimum and most powerful safeguard established by law to fundamentally prevent the influx of forged ballots (Articles 157(2) and 158(3) of the Public Official Election Act).

However, what about the current National Election Commission?

Under the guise of administrative convenience, they insist on the irregular practice of 'stamp printing' by prioritizing their own rules, which are subordinate to the law. They are even making officials use 'fake stamps' that are centrally produced by the NEC, distributed, and then collected, instead of the officials' real personal stamps. This is a clear violation of the law and a deceptive act that deceives the sovereign.

This is an act of the NEC leading the way and wide open the door to fraud.

The dire reality of numerous 'unfolded ballots' and 'stuck-together ballots' being discovered, which would be impossible if voters had inserted them one by one, proves this point.

What is even more heartbreaking is that the officials on the front lines are now bearing the full burden of this illegality.

The NEC has even taken out insurance to prepare for future legal liabilities, but frontline election officials who used printed imprints and fake stamps in violation of laws are facing the risk of direct punishment without any protective measures. Should diligent public officials become criminals simply for following the NEC's erroneous directives?

Therefore, we implore you.

Please convey this urgent concern to the public officials in your respective cities and districts.

We request that you inform them of the mandatory obligation to 'personally imprint' as stipulated by law, to prevent any unfortunate incidents where election officials are punished for violating the Public Official Election Act by following the NEC's illegal directives. They will inevitably be punished if the regime changes. Please inform them of the harsh truth that the NEC's insurance cannot cover individual illegal acts.

If we remain silent today, a fair world for our children may be forever out of reach.

We earnestly ask you to lend your support to this desperate plea.

We sincerely hope that you will become a strong pillar of support in protecting the great tree of democracy and safeguarding our fellow public officials.

Thank you very much for taking the time to read this lengthy message.

We pray for your continued health and peace in your household.

Sincerely, Wi Geum-sook, Representative of the Freedom and Innovation Election Crime Watchdog Group

Complaint Notification Sent to Eup, Myeon, and Dong Offices Nationwide

(Notice) Lawsuit Filed Against Election Officials and Absentee Ballot Election Officials for Illegal Acts

Hello.

We are the Election Crime Watchdog Group, working for fair and transparent elections.

We have filed lawsuits against election officials and absentee ballot election officials in relation to the presidential election held on June 3, 2025.

Currently, we have filed lawsuits against 252 (absentee) election officials nationwide, and we plan to file additional lawsuits against all (absentee) election officials, including district mayors, in the future.

Below are some of the case numbers.

2026-1009 Absentee Ballot Election Official Lee 00, Administrative Grade 6, Jangchung-dong Absentee Voting Station, Jung-gu, Seoul

2026-1664 Election Official Choi 00, Social Welfare Grade 6, Jo-won 2-dong Polling Station, Jangan-gu, Gyeonggi

2026-4103 Absentee Ballot Election Official Seong 00, Tax Grade 6, Won-dang-dong Absentee Voting Station, Seo-gu, Incheon`

2026-249 Election Official Park 00, Tax Grade 6, Gonggeun-myeon Polling Station, Hoengseong-gun, Gangwon Province

2026-860 Election Official Yoo 00, Engineering Grade 6, Eumseong-eup Polling Station, Eumseong-gun, Chungbuk Province

2026-286 Absentee Ballot Election Official Eo 00, Tax Grade 6, Chunghwa-myeon Absentee Voting Station, Buyeo-gun, Chungnam Province

2026-480 Election Official Jo 00, Grade 6, Local Administration, Sojeong-myeon Polling Station, Sejong City

2026-2539 Election Official Lee 00, Engineering Grade 6, Gwangcheon-dong Polling Station, Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City

2026-1462 Election Official Choi 00, Administrative Grade 6, Jukdo-dong Polling Station, Buk-gu, Pohang-si, Gyeongbuk Province

2026-2675 Election Official Kang 00, Administrative Grade 6, Myeongseok-myeon Polling Station, Jinju-si, Gyeongnam Province

2026-2751 Absentee Ballot Election Official Moon 00, Tax Grade 6, Beomeo 3-dong Absentee Voting Station, Suseong-gu, Daegu

2026-991 Absentee Ballot Election Official Park 00, Administrative Grade 6, Taehwa-dong Absentee Voting Station, Jung-gu, Ulsan

2026-2262 Election Official Oh 00, Administrative Grade 6, Aewol-eup Polling Station No. 1, Jeju City, Jeju Province

These lawsuits were filed by individual members of our Watchdog Group, and this fact can be confirmed on the Criminal Justice Portal.

The illegal acts in question related to this matter are as follows:

Articles 157(2) and 158(3) of the Public Official Election Act require election officials and absentee ballot election officials to 'personally imprint' their 'own stamp' on ballots.

However, it has been confirmed that in actual practice, 'fake stamps' centrally produced and distributed by the NEC and collected after the polling closes are being used. Furthermore, for absentee voting, 'fake stamp images' stored on a computer have been printed and issued to voters.

Some argue that there is no problem because they have signed a 'Consent to the Production and Destruction of (Absentee) Ballot Election Official Stamps' at the request of the NEC.

However, such arguments are legally unfounded. Even if the NEC requested such actions or obtained consent, the illegal act itself is not justified.

The responsibility for the act also applies equally to the parties who actually carried it out.

What is even more concerning is that the NEC was aware of the illegality of these actions. The fact that they have even taken out insurance to prepare for future legal liabilities proves this.

Conversely, election officials and absentee ballot election officials who performed their duties at the scene may be directly exposed to legal liability without any separate protective measures.

If legal proceedings are initiated in the future, costs such as attorney fees will have to be borne by individuals, and such issues can also lead to significant disadvantages in public service.

We hope that these problems will not be repeated in the upcoming June 3rd local elections.

Personally imprinting your stamp on ballots is the most basic procedure for complying with the law, and if you comply with the law, no responsibility or issue will arise.

We wish you and your family continued health and peace.

Sincerely, Wi Geum-sook, Representative of the Freedom and Innovation Election Crime Watchdog Group