Seoul: A civic group said Friday it filed a complaint against top officials of the National Election Commission (NEC) over the controversial removal of ballot papers from an early voting station in Sinchon, western Seoul, the previous day.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the complaint was filed with the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors Office on Thursday by the People's Welfare Countermeasure Committee. The group accused NEC Chairman Rho Tae-ak, NEC Secretary General Kim Yong-bin, and NEC Deputy Secretary General Heo Chul-hoon of dereliction of duties related to poor ballot management in Sinchon.
The civic group claimed that the NEC officials failed to exercise due diligence, thereby increasing the public's distrust in the election process. The incident has raised concerns over the integrity of the election management.
The two-day early voting began at 3,568 polling stations nationwide on Thursday. However, controversy arose when some voters were seen holding ballot papers outside the early voting station in Sinchon while waiting in long lines. Reports emerged of voters visiting nearby restaurants for lunch while carrying the ballot papers, further fueling the controversy over election management.
In response to the incident, the NEC promptly issued an apology regarding the situation in Sinchon.