[Comprehensive] "Arrest Me" Min Kyung-wook Reveals Ballots... Election Commission: "Stolen Ballots"

Ballot Paper Leak at Guri City Election Commission
Election Commission Requests Prosecutor Investigation
Min Kyung-wook "I Will Willingly Devote Myself to the Democracy Protection Order"

On the afternoon of the 11th, at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, Min Kyung-wook, a member of the Future United Party, claimed at the rally for uncovering the truth behind the April 15 general election suspicions and restoring national sovereignty that a large number of proportional representation ballots were found unmarked and without the election supervisor's seal.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] The ballot paper that Rep. Min Kyung-wook of the United Future Party publicly revealed while raising allegations of early voting manipulation has been confirmed as the ballot paper lost by the National Election Commission (NEC). Earlier, Rep. Min Kyung-wook had continuously raised suspicions of vote manipulation, including submitting an evidence preservation application to the court last month. The NEC has requested a prosecution investigation regarding the ballot paper disclosed by Rep. Min Kyung-wook.

On the 12th, the Central Election Commission issued a press release stating, "The proportional representation election ballot paper (obtained by Rep. Min) matches the remaining ballot papers lost by the Guri City Election Commission in Gyeonggi Province."

The NEC explained, "The Guri City Election Commission confirmed the number of remaining ballot papers due to a discrepancy between the number of voters and the number of ballot papers issued at the Sutak 2-dong 2nd polling station in the counting center," adding, "The election bag containing the remaining ballot papers and other election-related documents was temporarily stored in the fitness room inside the counting center, but it is presumed that someone stole it."

The NEC requested an investigation by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on the same day, stating that the theft of ballot papers constitutes a violation of the Public Official Election Act.

The NEC expressed "serious concern about the allegations of election fraud and reiterated its position that there was no manipulation of voting or counting," emphasizing, "The party presenting the remaining ballot papers as evidence of election fraud must clearly disclose how they secured the ballot papers and the circumstances of acquisition and take responsibility."

Amid the spreading controversy over the lost ballot papers, Rep. Min posted on his Facebook on the same day, saying, "If the police or prosecution investigate me, it means that an investigation into election fraud has begun," and added, "I am willing to offer myself to the democracy protection order. Arrest me."

On the 11th, Rep. Min claimed to have obtained a large batch of early voting ballots from the April 15 general election and asserted that they were evidence of fraudulent counting. He also declared, "There is evidence that will turn the world upside down," while promoting the early voting manipulation theory.

At the 'April 15 General Election Suspicion Truth-Finding and National Sovereignty Restoration Rally' held in the main conference room of the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the same day, Rep. Min revealed, "There are proportional representation ballots found in bulk without the election manager's seal and without being marked."

He repeatedly argued that early voting ballots are printed each time a voter arrives, so no extra ballots are produced, and that the fact he secured these ballots itself is evidence of 'manipulation.'

On the afternoon of the 11th, at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, during the rally for uncovering the truth behind the April 15 general election suspicions and restoring national sovereignty, Min Kyung-wook, a member of the United Future Party, claimed that shredded ballots were found in front of a post office in Gyeonggi-do. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Rep. Min showed shredded paper contained in a plastic bag, saying, "These are early voting ballots shredded along with envelopes found in front of a post office in Gyeonggi Province," and added, "It means someone shredded the ballots that were voted."

However, it has not been confirmed whether the paper Rep. Min disclosed is an actual ballot paper.

Additionally, Rep. Min claimed that ballots from the Seocho-eul district in Seoul were found in Bundang-eul, Gyeonggi Province. He released an anonymous audio recording suggesting that the ballot sorting machines used in counting could communicate externally and urged verification of the sorting machines.

Earlier, on the 27th of last month, Rep. Min submitted an evidence preservation application to the Incheon District Court.

In response, Judge Ahn Min-young of the Civil Division 35 of Incheon District Court accepted the evidence preservation verification for 17 out of 27 cases requested by Rep. Min, including ballot boxes, election papers, and closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage.

An evidence preservation application is a legal procedure to secure evidence in advance before filing a lawsuit. As the court consecutively accepted the evidence preservation applications, the controversy over election fraud is expected to be resolved in court.

According to Article 223 of the Public Official Election Act, a candidate who disputes the election results can request a recount within 30 days after the winner is determined by filing a lawsuit.