Kim KiHyun: "Even 'restaurant voting' emerges... Election Commission reform and overhaul of voting and counting systems needed"

"Election Commission's Voting Management Still Inadequate"

Kim KiHyun, a member of the People Power Party, criticized on the 31st, "The management of early voting for the 21st presidential election and the Central Election Management Committee's handling of the voting process remain inadequate."

On Facebook that day, Kim stated, "During the 2022 presidential election, the so-called 'basket voting' drew nationwide criticism, and now in the 2025 presidential election, we are even seeing 'restaurant voting.'"

Kim Moonsoo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party (left), is taking a commemorative photo after presenting the appointment certificate to Kim Kihyun, co-chairman of the Central Election Committee, at the Central Election Committee meeting and appointment ceremony held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the morning of May 15, 2025. Photo by Kim Hyunmin

Kim mentioned, "At an early voting station in Sinchon, Seoul, a voter reportedly took their ballot outside the polling place to have a meal before returning, and at a polling station in Gangnam, an election official cast a vote on behalf of her husband. There was also an absurd incident where ballots for last year's National Assembly election appeared."

He urged a sweeping reform of the Election Commission, which he said had undermined the credibility of the election, and called for improvements to the voting and ballot counting systems. Kim emphasized, "A thorough investigation must be conducted and those responsible must be held accountable for the outrageous mismanagement of the election, which has led to citizens' precious votes being stolen and democracy being threatened."

He added, "I earnestly ask that every single person participate in the main vote on June 3 and support Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party candidate, so that this can be achieved."