Former Gyeonggi Province Education Superintendent Im Tae-hee [Newsis]
Former Gyeonggi Province Education Superintendent Im Tae-hee [Newsis]

Former Gyeonggi Province Education Superintendent Im Tae-hee has called for the special prosecutor investigating the National Election Commission to expand its probe into the ballot-counting process for the June 3 local elections to cover all areas of Gyeonggi Province. Im also urged investigators to include in their inquiry the circumstances under which so-called "brick ballots" — unfolded ballots found in bundles inside early voting boxes — were issued and distributed.

Im held a press conference at the National Assembly press center Thursday, calling for a full investigation and additional scrutiny in connection with the special prosecutor's recent search and seizure operations.

The special prosecutor's office conducted a search and seizure Tuesday after finding indications that an employee of the Gwangju City Election Commission in Gyeonggi Province had concealed and forged vote-count records from the Gyeonggi Province education superintendent race during the June 3 local elections. The operation aimed to determine whether the National Election Commission was organizationally involved in the alleged misconduct.

"I view it positively that the special prosecutor has moved to launch a full investigation after confirming indications of concealment and forgery in what had previously been known as a simple ballot-count data entry error," Im said at the press conference.

Im added that limiting the issue to a few localities would not be enough to restore public trust in election administration. "Problems with ballot-count data entry errors occurred in Gwangju and Seongnam, and indications of concealment and forgery have now been confirmed in Gwangju," Im said. "The special prosecutor must expand the scope of the investigation to cover every area in Gyeonggi Province without exception."

Im also urged the special prosecutor to investigate whether the brick ballots — which have repeatedly surfaced in early voting boxes and bear no fold marks — were issued and distributed through proper procedures, and how any undistributed ballots were managed and disposed of. "The questions surrounding these ballots have persisted, and the special prosecutor must now investigate thoroughly to get to the truth," Im said.

Im's camp plans to compile additional allegations related to the June 3 local elections beyond the two issues raised and formally request that the special prosecutor investigate them next week.


husn7@heraldcorp.com