[June 3 Election] Democratic Party Suspends Hwasun County Primary Over 'Proxy Voting' Allegations

by Shin Dongho

by Min Chanki

Published 15 Apr.2026 11:48(KST)

Jeonnam Provincial Chapter, Proxy Voting Allegations Also Emerge in Jangseong County Primary

The Democratic Party primary for selecting the Hwasun County governor candidate in Jeollanam-do has been suspended due to allegations of proxy voting. According to the Jeonnam Provincial Chapter of the Democratic Party on April 15, the runoff primary for Hwasun County, which had been underway from the previous day until today, was urgently halted.

On the 14th, a specific person was returning residents' cell phones in a village in Hancheon-myeon, Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do. Photo provided by a reader

On the previous day, a report was received that in Hancheon-myeon, Hwasun County, a specific individual had collected residents' mobile phones and cast votes in the Democratic Party’s primary using the automated response system (ARS) on their behalf.

The informant reportedly filed a complaint with the police and the election commission and submitted related video footage as evidence. The Democratic Party's Jeonnam Provincial Chapter suspended the primary and is currently investigating the two runoff candidates, Yoon Youngmin and Lim Jirak. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the chapter plans to consider follow-up actions such as disciplinary measures or invalidation of the votes.

Proxy voting suspicions also arose in the Jangseong County governor primary on the previous day, leading to the suspension of that primary as well. In a senior citizens' center in Samgye-myeon, Jangseong County, some residents were observed casting proxy votes using multiple neighbors' mobile phones.

At the time, more than ten mobile phones were neatly arranged inside the senior citizens' center, each marked to identify the owner. It is reported that a resident who was present at the center attempted to respond to the ARS voting system on behalf of each phone’s owner.

The police and the election commission, which received the complaint, plan to investigate the exact circumstances.