President Yoon Seok-yeol Believing in 'Election Fraud Conspiracy', Said 'Election Fraud Impossible' During Presidential Election

Yoon "Hacking Attacks from the Election Commission and North Korea"
People Power Party in the 20th Presidential Election "Vote Manipulation Impossible"

President Yoon Suk-yeol raised suspicions of election fraud in his national address on the 12th, explaining the legitimacy of martial law. However, public opinion grew even colder. Critics pointed out that this was self-contradictory.

President Yoon Suk-yeol is delivering a national address at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 12th. December 12, 2024 [Provided by the Presidential Office. Resale and DB prohibited] Yonhap News

In his address, President Yoon stated, "In the second half of last year, there were hacking attacks by North Korea on constitutional institutions including the National Election Commission (NEC) and government agencies," and argued, "How can the public trust the election results when the computerized system managing elections, the core of democracy, is so flawed?"

It appears that President Yoon has believed in the election fraud suspicions for a long time. On the same day, former People Power Party lawmaker Kim Woong told CBS Radio's 'Park Jae-hong's One-on-One Battle' that early in the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, President Yoon showed discomfort toward former People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Kyung-joon, who refuted the election fraud suspicions. Former lawmaker Kim said, "The president was discussing everything that appeared on YouTube, and when Yoo refuted it, President Yoon became very angry," adding, "Yoo said he had no choice but to refute because the president was talking nonsense." Yoo is a former head of the Statistics Korea.

The People Power Party refuted allegations of election fraud raised by some during the 20th presidential election process, stating that such claims are virtually impossible. / Photo by Office of Kim Tae-seon, Democratic Party of Korea

There are criticisms that President Yoon’s assertion of 'election fraud suspicions' in the address actually accelerated the impeachment process. According to data provided by the office of Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Tae-seon, the People Power Party produced card news during the 20th presidential election process, in which President Yoon was elected, that dismissed election fraud suspicions as conspiracy theories. The card news emphasized that election fraud suspicions such as 'hacking of the Central Election Commission Election Information Center,' 'possible manipulation of vote counts and tallies,' 'possible tampering with ballot boxes or counting machines,' and 'ballot box swapping during early voting' were "impossible." It also explained that "six People Power Party-appointed vote observers monitor each counting station," and "CCTV is installed at all locations where early voting ballot boxes are kept, and fingerprint authentication is mandatory for entrants." Lawmaker Kim said, "President Yoon fell into the election fraud conspiracy theory, pointed a gun at the people, and ultimately revealed a self-contradiction that invites impeachment," adding, "He must bear strict responsibility for the rebellion."

The Central Election Commission, the target of President Yoon’s allegations, also pushed back. On the 13th, Noh Tae-ak, chairman of the Central Election Commission, said during a National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee inquiry, "Election fraud is impossible from a system standpoint," and added, "I find President Yoon’s stance on election fraud quite shocking." Kim Yong-bin, secretary-general of the Central Election Commission, also said, "I oversaw the 22nd general election. We did our best, and found no evidence of election fraud," and "The National Intelligence Service investigation concluded that no traces of hacking were found."