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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

President Lee Jae-myung's Polling Booth Query Sparks Political Row

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • South Korean President Lee Jae-myung briefly left a polling booth during early voting for the 9th National Simultaneous Local Elections to inquire about ballot marking.
  • He asked election officials if a ballot marked only halfway with a circle would be considered invalid.
  • The incident drew criticism from the opposition People Power Party, which alleged a violation of election law, while the ruling Democratic Party dismissed it as a minor mishap.

President Lee Jae-myung briefly exited a polling booth during early voting for the 9th National Simultaneous Local Elections, sparking a minor controversy. The incident occurred on May 29 at the Samcheong-dong Community Center in Seoul, where the president cast his vote.

Where is the administrator?

— Lee Jae-myungEmerging from the polling booth to ask election officials a question.

After receiving his ballot for the Incheon Gyeyang-eul district, Lee entered the booth. He then emerged to ask election officials, "Where is the administrator?" He held up his ballot, showing a partially marked circle, and inquired, "Is it okay if the circle is only half-marked? Won't it be invalidated?" Election officials reportedly assured him that such a mark would not invalidate the ballot, after which he completed his vote.

Is it okay if the circle is only half-marked? Won't it be invalidated?

— Lee Jae-myungShowing his ballot and inquiring about the validity of a partially marked circle.

The opposition People Power Party quickly seized on the event. Song Eon-seok, the party's floor leader, stated on Facebook that he had received reports of Lee exposing his ballot paper outside the booth. Song argued that this action violates the Public Official Election Act, which prohibits voters from revealing their ballots, and that such ballots should be invalidated. He described the situation as "extremely serious."

Lee President, after voting in the polling station, exposed the ballot and then re-entered the polling station. I received a report. According to the Public Official Election Act, no voter can disclose their ballot to others, and a disclosed ballot must be invalidated.

— Song Eon-seokCriticizing the president's actions as a violation of election law.

However, Cho Seung-rae, the general election committee's headquarters leader for the Democratic Party, dismissed the criticism. Speaking at a press conference, Cho characterized the opposition's reaction as an "unnecessarily forced attack" on a minor mishap during the voting process. The presidential office stated that the early voting was intended to encourage public participation and emphasize that democracy is completed through citizen involvement.

It is an unnecessarily forced attack on a mishap that occurred during the voting process.

— Cho Seung-raeDefending the president against the opposition's criticism.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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