"Issued Ballots Equal Return Envelopes"... National Election Commission Issues Public Apology for 'Poor Management,' Denies Any Ballot Papers Were Removed

Controversy Over Ballot Paper Removal in Sinchondong, Seoul
"We Will Strictly Manage the Remaining Early Voting"

The National Election Commission issued a public apology regarding the controversy over the removal of ballot papers during early voting in Sinchon, Seoul, stating that "there was a lack of proper management during the early voting process."

On May 29, Kim Yongbin, Secretary General of the National Election Commission, stated in an official statement, "At the early voting station in Sinchondong, Seoul, there was an incident where the line of out-of-district voters waiting to mark their ballots extended outside the polling station." He further explained, "There was a failure in management as we were unable to control the speed of ballot issuance when the waiting line grew long, and control over voters waiting in line was not perfect, as a few voters left the line."

Kim Yongbin, Secretary General of the National Election Commission, is responding to questions regarding the amendment to the Public Official Election Act at the plenary session of the National Assembly's Administration and Security Committee on the 7th. Photo by Yonhap News

Secretary General Kim said, "Such an incident is something that should never happen according to the common sense of the public," and added, "Each voter took precious time to come to the polling station, but due to our mistake, we caused confusion among the voters." He continued, "I fully acknowledge that all mistakes made by the on-site staff are the responsibility of the National Election Commission, and as Secretary General, I deeply apologize to the public."

The Commission stated that, upon closing the Sinchondong early voting station, it was confirmed that the number of ballot papers issued to out-of-district early voters exactly matched the number of return envelopes in the out-of-district early voting ballot box, and therefore, no ballot papers were removed from the site.

Earlier that day, a YouTube channel broadcasting live at the entrance of the Sinchondong Community Center early voting station in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, captured footage of citizens holding ballot papers and return envelopes outside the polling station.

The controversy over poor management intensified after media reports revealed that some out-of-district voters, who were waiting in line, left to have a meal after receiving their ballot papers and then returned, citing the long wait as the reason.