기사 메일전송
Controversy over the Election
  • 김윤중 기자
  • 등록 2022-05-02 16:28:59
  • 수정 2022-05-09 12:11:30
기사수정

 The biggest issue in Korea this year in 2022 is the presidential election. Pre-voting was held from March 4 to March 5. Suspicions that improper voting took place during special voting sessions for COVID patients during the pre-voting period have led to controversy. Accordingly, the people constantly demanded an explanation with doubts about the voting process that they believe to be not transparent or fair. Therefore, Pharos would like to learn about what suspicious actions have possibly taken place.

 

 First of all, the first controversial issue occurred in the pre-voting session held on March 5. COVID-19 confirmed patients and quarantined people visited the polling station in advance with permission to go out. After identification, they held a vote at a temporary voting booth where only confirmed and quarantined people can vote separately. However, in the process, the controversy spread as the election clerk personally collected the ballot instead of putting the ballot directly into the ballot box. What’s more is that the ballots were taken to the ballot box in ramen boxes, plastic boxes, and shopping bags. Therefore, there were complaints that it was hard for many to believe that the ballots were properly deposited into the ballot box. The act violated the principle of secret elections because voters could not put their ballots into the ballot box by themselves.

 

 In addition, in some regions, the distribution of marked ballot papers was controversial. The polling stations in Seoul and Busan received these ballots, which was controversial, but the Election Commission announced that this was a simple mistake. Also people who had already participated in pre-voting were able to receive another ballot at the polling station. In principle, it should be one vote per person, but in this way, criticism has been raised that two votes per person could be cast. The Election Commission said, “We couldn't confirm this because we didn’t have enough capacity.” Many people did not trust the Election Commission because it announced that it “couldn’t pay attention to responding to complaints because there were many kinds of complaints.” This was in the presidential election, which determines the future of Korea.

 

 A final controversy was also evident in this vote. While counting votes at a polling station in Incheon, it was confirmed that the color of the ballot box was different, leading to controversy over whether it was a fraudulent election. Accordingly, the Election Commission explained that the company that produced the ballot was different, and announced that there was no problem with voting fairness. However, this was a clear loophole in the most important presidential election, and the response was slow, so the public could not stop doubting it. As a result, the election has been confirmed, but doubts about the poor election have yet to be addressed, and much of the public finds the explanations given to be insufficient.

 

 In the past, Korea has experienced fraudulent elections. First, the fourth presidential election is known to people as the ‘3·15 Unfair Election’, which began the ‘4·19 Revolution’. Former President Lee Seungman planned a thorough election fraud for his second term. During the election process, all forms of cheating occurred in the voting and counting process. A secret order was issued to the national election management to conduct a 40% pre-voting in advance, and one of the basic election principles, the secret election, was not implemented, using a three- or nine-member group method. In addition, the results of the election were manipulated by mobilizing armband units to pressure public officials and purchase opposition party observation dates. The results of the election were natural, which was immediately revealed through the media. Citizens took to the streets to protest, calling the incident that tarnished the transparency of the election.

 

 Second, in 2002, a netizen who introduced himself as a “national official” claimed that electronic counting was manipulative. This article became a hot topic nationwide, raising suspicions of rigging the election of former President Noh Muhyeon. At that time, the opposition camp immediately demanded a recount and filed a lawsuit for invalidation of the election. As a result, an unprecedented large-scale recount was made with huge costs and manpower. The results proved only minor differences that did not significantly affect the voting results. Since then, the leader of the opposition camp has taken full responsibility and resigned from his post with a public apology.

 


 

"Elections are called the flower of democracy and the process of selecting a representative of a country. The recent poor pre-voting election for COVID-19 confirmed patients should not take place in the 21st century. The people have believed in the ethics and conscience of the Election Commission. This incident provided an opportunity to reconsider the belief. The great principles of democratic elections are constitutional values and precious principles. Elections must adhere to four principles for fair and democratic elections. Ordinary people should be able to vote equally, directly and secretly. The recent bad election is a shortcut to fraudulent elections and illegal counting. Such an election will allow anyone to express their opinion that they cannot trust and accept the results of the election. The National Election Commission should make every effort to restore trust with the people. In addition, all Koreans should do their best to protect the precious constitutional values of democratic justice obtained from the blood and sweat of our ancestors."



75th Reporter • KIM YUN JUNG • dbswnd7676@naver.com

75th Reporter • KANG ROK KI • krk1754@naver.com



TAG
0
모바일 버전 바로가기