Special prosecutor opens ballot review of 2.47 million Songpa-gu votes

Observers' demand to film delays start to 11:49 a.m.; protesters outside grow louder in afternoon

Officials from Special Prosecutor Lee Tae-han's team, clerks and observers prepare to begin a public verification of ballots from the June 3 local elections at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday. [Yonhap]

"If you see anything suspicious among the ballots in front of you, please request an expert examination." (Inside the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium)

"Fraudulent election — hold a re-election. Hand-count ballots on election day." (Outside the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium)

The special prosecutor investigating the National Election Commission — led by Special Prosecutor Lee Tae-han and probing allegations of misconduct including a ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections — conducted an open verification of Songpa-gu ballots on Wednesday. The special prosecutor's office said the review was carried out not only as part of the investigation but also as an opportunity to restore public trust. Outside the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium where the verification was under way, protesters waving South Korean and American flags chanted slogans alleging election fraud.

Special Prosecutor Lee declared the start of the verification process at 11:49 a.m. at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, covering approximately 2.47 million ballots from polling stations within the district as well as on-site CCTV footage and other materials. The process had originally been scheduled to begin at 9 a.m., but the announcement was delayed after some observers demanded permission to film the proceedings.

In response to the filming requests, the special prosecutor's team issued one recording device each to a designated observer from the ruling party and one from the opposition. Those designated observers were permitted to use the devices to photograph any ballots deemed suspicious, with the special prosecutor's office reclaiming the equipment once the process concluded. Outside the venue, however, protesters continued to chant demands for a live broadcast of the verification.

Protesters chant slogans demanding a re-election and a hand count of ballots outside the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in Seoul on Wednesday, as Special Prosecutor Lee Tae-han's team conducts a public verification of ballots from the June 3 local elections. [Yonhap]

After the formal start was declared, dosirak were distributed to National Election Commission officials and observers participating in the verification when the midday break arrived. The ballot boxes were opened in earnest after lunch, with workers unfolding and examining each ballot one by one. Some observers raised their hands and called out "Objection," and at times asked the People Power Party's designated camera operator to record specific ballots.

Another observer approached People Power Party Supreme Council member Kim Min-su to flag a concern. Kim was seen patting the observer on the shoulder and listening attentively. Counting teams were also observed discussing ballots with one another as the review progressed.

Some observers raised the question of whether it was appropriate for the National Election Commission to retain ballots that had passed the verification without issue, arguing that an agency under criminal investigation should not be holding the ballots. However, the NEC is legally obligated to store ballots until the end of the elected officials' terms.

Special Prosecutor Lee Tae-han (center) arrives at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in Seoul on Wednesday ahead of the public verification of ballots from the June 3 local elections. [Yonhap]

The tone of the protest outside grew sharper in the afternoon. As the crowd continued chanting slogans demanding a re-election and a hand count, one speaker raised their voice: "I'm told that when they opened the Seoul mayoral ballot box just now, 90 percent of the contents were bundles of crisp new bills. Shouldn't we root out the forces of election fraud, the communist forces, the Juche ideologue forces?" Voices sharply critical of Special Prosecutor Lee were also heard.

A large vehicle parked at the scene displayed photographs of former presidents Lee Seung-man and Park Chung-hee alongside former President Yoon Suk Yeol. A tent nearby bore a photograph of Lee and the slogan "Rise up, youth." Some of the picket signs held by protesters carried the inflammatory phrase "This can only be resolved with bloodshed."

The special prosecutor's team reiterated Wednesday that while it is a law enforcement body, it intends the verification to serve as a turning point for restoring public confidence. "I sincerely hope that through this verification and the ongoing special prosecution investigation, the problems in the current election administration will be addressed and public trust in the electoral system will be restored," Lee said.

The verification was expected to run past midnight and wrap up in the early hours of Thursday, depending on how proceedings unfold.

bell@heraldcorp.com