Labeled as 'Reference Material,' Yet Dismisses Every Key Issue

[Anchor]

We previously reported that three members of the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission resigned after receiving guidelines from the National Election Commission (NEC) that effectively directed them to dismiss election appeals. We have obtained the full text of this document, which served as a guideline, and it shows that the NEC had already concluded that each issue was not problematic before even reviewing the details of the appeals.

Reporter Kim Kwan-jin has the story.

[Reporter]

This is the so-called reference material sent by the National Election Commission to regional election commissions, including the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission, on July 3.

In this document, which SBS obtained through the National Assembly, 11 key issues related to the ballot paper shortage are summarized.

Regarding the manual entry of serial numbers on ballots that lacked them, the NEC wrote that it was an "inevitable measure and difficult to view as a violation of the law or invalid." It also argued that transporting ballots in shopping bags, while indicative of a lack of preparation, was an urgent measure.

The document also concluded that starting the vote count before voting had officially ended was unlikely to have affected the election. It further asserted that it was difficult to view as a violation of regulations the decision to extend voting hours at the Jamsil 7-dong No. 2 polling station based solely on a report without a committee resolution, as well as the failure to have observers accompany the transport of ballot boxes.

The document contained many phrases that could be interpreted as judgments and directives, rather than merely providing explanations of issues or factual information.

The three members of the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission who received this document via email submitted their resignations on July 6, citing the "undermining of the independence and fairness of the review process," stating that they "interpreted it as a directive from the NEC to dismiss the appeals."

These members, who have legal backgrounds, included two recommended by the Democratic Party of Korea and the People Power Party, respectively, and one appointed by the Election Commission itself.

(Video reporting: Joo Yong-jin | Video editing: Lee Sang-min | Design: Choi Ha-neul | Data provided by the office of Representative Yoon Kun-young of the Democratic Party of Korea)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.