"Early Voting Election Fraud Alleged"... Election Commission Files Charges Against 6 for Spreading False Information

Citizens visiting the election information center set up in the Seoul Station waiting room 15 days before the 21st National Assembly election are taking photos. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The National Election Commission announced on the 2nd that it has reported six individuals, including Mr. A, to the prosecution for spreading false information that early voting in the 21st National Assembly election was manipulated.

According to the Public Official Election Act, the QR code printed on early voting ballots contains a serial number, the election name, the electoral district name, and the name of the jurisdictional committee, but no personal information.

However, Mr. A and three others generated serial numbers by combining arbitrary numbers and letters in the QR codes on early voting ballots and continuously spread false information on YouTube claiming that it was possible to know voters' information and voting tendencies, and that using a specific program could verify in advance which candidate was voted for.

Additionally, two others, including Mr. B, were reported for continuously spreading false information on YouTube that early voting equipment used programs from a specific Chinese company and that hacking programs could manipulate voting results from China or North Korea. The National Election Commission stated, "The wired and wireless communication equipment used for early voting is entirely produced by domestic companies according to national standards," and emphasized, "There is no connection whatsoever with Chinese companies."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.