Seoul Progressive Education Superintendent Primary Rigged, Say Dropped Candidates; Police Asked to Investigate

The Hankyoreh reports on a serious accusation leveled by two former contenders in the Seoul progressive education superintendent primary. Han Man-jung and Kang Shin-man allege that the process to select a single progressive candidate was marred by irregularities, including vote manipulation, selective exclusion of voters, and the destruction of server data. They have formally requested a police investigation into the '2026 Seoul Democratic Progressive Education Superintendent Unification Promotion Committee.'

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The organizing committee excluded voters and improperly handled vote counting and server data after their elimination.

These candidates claim that after failing to secure a majority in the initial vote, they discovered suspicious activities. Their accusations include the arbitrary exclusion of around 6,000 supporters of Han Man-jung and the admission by Kang Shin-man that a significant number of participants were removed due to issues like proxy voting or a desire not to participate, suggesting widespread proxy voting. They further allege that the vote count was conducted in secret, without observers, and that server data was deleted during the objection period, effectively destroying evidence.

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We have not permitted proxy applications.

The promotion committee has refuted these claims. They assert that proxy applications were not permitted and that the server data deletion was a measure to protect personal information, not to destroy evidence. They maintain that the data can be restored through forensic analysis if requested by legal authorities. This dispute highlights the intense competition and potential for controversy within political primaries, even at the local level, raising questions about the integrity of the selection process.

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Data deletion was for privacy protection and can be restored if legally required.