Kang Dong-wan, acting secretary general of the National Election Commission, speaks at the third hearing of the special parliamentary investigation committee on the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections, held at the National Assembly on Monday. [Yonhap]
Kang Dong-wan, acting secretary general of the National Election Commission, speaks at the third hearing of the special parliamentary investigation committee on the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections, held at the National Assembly on Monday. [Yonhap]

The National Election Commission said Monday it cannot accept claims that errors in voter-count entries amount to election fraud.

At the third hearing of the special parliamentary investigation committee on the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections, held at the National Assembly on Monday, Kang Dong-wan, acting secretary general of the NEC, said "there are inherent limitations that inevitably arise when tallying and disclosing voter counts through offline, analog methods."

Kang said he "humbly acknowledges" that some data had been entered inaccurately and that human error contributed to poor management, but said he "absolutely cannot agree with some claims that erroneous voter-count entries in themselves constitute election fraud."

He also rebuffed allegations that the NEC deliberately manipulated turnout figures. "It is absolutely not the case that this organization acted with any such intent," he said. He added that a large number of NEC staff are currently under investigation by a joint investigative task force and will also face scrutiny from a special prosecutor yet to be launched, leaving the organization "severely demoralized." He said there is "great concern" about whether the commission will be able to manage upcoming nationwide by-elections and the 23rd National Assembly election without disruption.


siuu@heraldcorp.com