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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

South Korea to potentially recount 2.47 million local election ballots

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Under investigation
  • South Korean political parties have agreed to a recount of 2.47 million ballots remaining from the June 3 local elections at the Olympic Park handball stadium.
  • The National Assembly's special committee investigating the ballot shortage will discuss and decide on the recount's implementation.
  • The National Election Commission estimates the recount will require 440 personnel, 50 million won, and take 9 hours, aiming to resolve public distrust.

South Korean political parties have reached a consensus on recounting 2.47 million ballots that remain at the Olympic Park handball stadium from the June 3 local elections. The decision on whether to proceed with the recount will be made by the National Assembly's special committee investigating the ballot shortage.

The Democratic Party will actively consider pursuing the recount and manual count of the 2.47 million ballots remaining at the Olympic Park handball stadium through discussions within the special committee.

— Han Byung-doActing leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party on the proposed ballot recount.

Han Byung-do, the acting leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party, stated that his party will actively consider pursuing a recount and manual count of the remaining ballots through discussions within the special committee. This follows a proposal by Yoon Sang-hyun, the committee chairman from the People Power Party, who suggested a public re-verification of the 2.47 million votes to demonstrate the integrity of the vote-counting process.

The National Election Commission has indicated its support for a recount if decided by the special committee. During the committee's second on-site investigation, the commission reported that restoring the Olympic Park handball stadium's function and transferring the ballots are necessary to alleviate public anxiety and address suspicions. They estimate that the recount would require 440 personnel, cost 50 million won, and take approximately 9 hours.

A public re-verification of the 2.47 million votes is needed to show that there were no errors in the vote counting and tabulation.

— Yoon Sang-hyunChairman of the special committee proposing a public recount.

Chairman Yoon Sang-hyun emphasized that a public recount would help resolve distrust in the election commission and serve as a minimal gesture of inclusion for citizens concerned about the election process. However, Lee Jun-seok of the Reform Party expressed concern that political recounts might fuel existing conspiracy theories about election fraud. The final decision on the recount will be made through consultations between the floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties and discussions with the National Election Commission.

The transfer of ballots is necessary to restore the function of the Olympic Park handball stadium and to resolve public anxiety and suspicion.

— National Election CommissionThe election commission's report on the necessity of ballot transfer and verification.

Additionally, the special committee decided to summon a total of 97 witnesses for its first hearing on July 14. These witnesses include all members of the National Election Commission, as well as officials from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the police.

Political recounts can lead to accusations of 'why was this done?' from those who believe in election fraud.

— Lee Jun-seokLee Jun-seok of the Reform Party expressing concerns about the political implications of a recount.
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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