{"id":2204575,"date":"2024-04-09T08:00:44","date_gmt":"2024-04-08T23:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/?p=2204575"},"modified":"2024-04-08T14:39:59","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T05:39:59","slug":"south-koreas-election-commission-refutes-claims-of-advance-voting-manipulation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2024\/04\/south-koreas-election-commission-refutes-claims-of-advance-voting-manipulation\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea\u2019s election commission refutes claims of advance voting manipulation"},"content":{"rendered":"
Hwang Kyo-ahn, who served as South Korea\u2019s acting president from Dec. 2016 to May 2017 after President Park Geun-hye\u2019s <\/span>impeachment<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>alleged<\/span><\/a> on April 8 that election officials were manipulating advance voting in the April 10 general election. He pointed to a <\/span>video<\/span><\/a> recording from 3 a.m. on April 7 showing election officials in Seoul\u2019s Eunpyeong district appearing to handle a large volume of external ballots and changes to voting procedures as supposed evidence of fraud.<\/span><\/p>\n South Korea\u2019s National Election Commission <\/span>dismissed<\/span><\/a> the allegations as unfounded later on April 7, stating the video depicts a normal process where ballots are received by mail and inserted into ballot boxes with oversight from party-nominated officials. The commission emphasized that the courts have rejected previous election lawsuits alleging fraud and warned against inciting public distrust through unsubstantiated claims.<\/span><\/p>\n Why It Matters<\/b><\/p>\n Hwang\u2019s allegations of election fraud on April 8 are not isolated incidents. He has previously made similar claims about the <\/span>2022 presidential election<\/span><\/a> and the <\/span>2023 People Power Party leadership vote<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Hwang\u2019s comments and the YouTube video he referenced have led some South Korean voters to claim on social media that the election was fraudulent. Whether intentional or not, these claims erode the perceived legitimacy of the elections and may exacerbate political polarization and distrust in institutions and the media. This, in turn, will likely amplify extreme voices on social media platforms.<\/span><\/p>\n South Korea has strict voter identification procedures, requiring voters to present their national ID cards or driver\u2019s licenses, which election officials scan and match against the government\u2019s database before they issue ballots to voters. The National Election Commission <\/span>announced<\/span><\/a> a record-high 31.28% voter turnout for early voting.<\/span><\/p>\n