[Exclusive] Investigation of 'Poor Early Voting Management' in No Jeong-hee Case Transferred from Seoul Police Agency to Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency

Nominee for Supreme Court Justice No Jeong-hee is attending the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly on the 24th, delivering an opening statement. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Seongpil Jo, Sehee Jang, Gyumin Oh] The Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency is expected to take charge of the case involving allegations of mismanagement during the early voting for the 20th presidential election, which led to the indictment of No Jeonghee, Chairperson of the National Election Commission, among others.

According to police sources on the 21st, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency recently decided to transfer the case to the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency. The case was filed by the Action Alliance for the Restoration of the Rule of Law (Beopse-ryeon) and others, accusing Chairperson No and former Secretary-General Kim Sehyun of violating the Public Official Election Act, dereliction of duty, and abuse of authority. A Seoul police official stated, "The Election Commission falls under the jurisdiction of the Gyeonggi Police Agency," adding, "Considering that there are multiple complainants, the case was transferred to the Gyeonggi Southern Police Agency." The official further explained, "It is still uncertain whether the Gyeonggi Southern Police will handle the case directly or if it will be sent to Gwacheon, where the Election Commission is located," but added, "Ultimately, even if it is transferred to Gwacheon, the Gyeonggi Southern Police will oversee the case."

Earlier, civic groups including the Action Alliance for the Restoration of the Rule of Law and the Committee for the Protection of Ordinary Citizens’ Livelihoods filed complaints with the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office, alleging that the Election Commission’s poor management during the early voting process for COVID-19 confirmed and quarantined voters caused confusion and violated the Constitution and laws. The Supreme Prosecutors’ Office transferred the cases to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office on the 8th. On the 18th, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office further transferred the case to the Anti-Corruption and Public Crime Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

Prior to the March 9 presidential election, the Election Commission faced strong criticism from both ruling and opposition parties for its poor management of early voting for COVID-19 confirmed and quarantined voters on the 5th. During this process, ballots were carelessly stored in shopping bags or baskets, and cases occurred where ballots marked for specific candidates were distributed, leading to numerous complaints and protests. In relation to this, Kim Sehwan, Secretary-General of the National Election Commission (ministerial level), tendered his resignation on the 16th amid the controversy over the mismanagement of early voting for COVID-19 confirmed and quarantined voters in the presidential election.

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