South Korean President Apologizes for Election Chaos Amid Interference Claims

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has issued a public apology following widespread disruptions and public anger over the June 3 local elections. The elections, which saw a significant victory for the ruling Democratic Party, were marred by ballot shortages and allegations of vote tampering, sparking protests across the country.

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The Central Election Management Commission caused immense obstruction to the exercise of the people's right to participate in politics during the June 3 local elections. The incident itself is unacceptable, and the subsequent response and explanation to the public were also completely insufficient.

Online, the election chaos fueled conspiracy theories, most notably accusations of Chinese interference. Footage circulating on social media, purportedly from polling stations, showed election workers allegedly swapping ballots. Further fueling suspicion, some masked police officers questioned by the public remained silent, leading to speculation they were not Korean speakers sent to suppress protests on behalf of the Lee administration.

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The people's right to participate in politics must not be restricted or infringed upon for any reason. This incident is a major event that undermines the foundation of national sovereignty.

In a statement on his official X account, Lee acknowledged the "immense obstruction" to citizens' right to vote. He described the situation as "unacceptable" and stated that the subsequent response and explanations provided to the public were "completely insufficient." Lee emphasized that the right to vote is a constitutional right that must never be restricted, calling the incident a "major event that undermines the foundation of national sovereignty."

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As a member of the public and as president responsible for the government, I express my deep regret.

As president, Lee expressed "deep regret" and called for a swift parliamentary investigation to uncover the truth and develop measures to prevent recurrence. He also instructed the formation of a joint investigation headquarters involving prosecutors and police to thoroughly identify those responsible. Lee stressed the importance of the Central Election Management Commission as an independent body, comparable to the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, and urged it to demonstrate a strong will for reform to regain public trust.

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I hope the National Assembly will promptly proceed with a state audit to clarify the truth of this incident and establish measures to prevent similar incidents from happening again.