Live Broadcast Disputes Arise During Election Commission's Special Investigation

It took nearly five hours to open the ballot box, and even after it was opened, disputes continued over how much could be directly verified.

On October 28, at the handball stadium in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, observers focused their attention behind the staff verifying each ballot. Amid voices raising objections and calling for filming personnel, the special investigation team announced restrictions on movement and contact. Outside the stadium, participants in a rally demanded a live broadcast of the proceedings.

The Election Commission's special investigation team, led by special prosecutor Lee Tae-han, began verifying approximately 2.47 million ballots from Songpa-gu for discrepancies and potential forgery. The process, originally scheduled to start at 9 a.m., was delayed due to confusion during entry and protests against filming restrictions, finally commencing around 11:50 a.m. After moving the storage box and checking its seal, the actual verification of the ballots began around 2 p.m.

Throughout the morning, lawmakers from the People Power Party and some observers demanded permission for individual filming. Kim Min-soo, a senior member of the People Power Party, urged, "Coordinate even if it takes an hour longer." Jang Dong-hyuk, the party's leader, proposed that both the special investigation team and the People Power Party be allowed to film, provided the footage was not taken outside.

Special prosecutor Lee Tae-han explained that allowing individual filming could compromise the security and progress of the procedure. He noted that CCTV and filming equipment were installed on-site, and if an observer raised an objection, the corresponding ballot would be categorized and filmed as evidence.

However, there was pushback against relying solely on the special investigation team's recorded footage. When Park Hyuk, the deputy special prosecutor, asked, "Do you not trust the special investigation team?" lawmaker Lee Jin-sook responded, "The public does not trust it. This is a special investigation created by the people." Some observers raised their voices, saying, "If filming is not allowed, we should withdraw."

After negotiations, the special investigation team permitted two cameras from broadcasters to record without live broadcasting from the second floor. They also provided special investigation equipment to one designated observer from each party to film any irregular ballots. The principle of prohibiting free filming by individual observers was maintained.

Before the ballots were opened, there was a dispute over the condition of the box. Some observers pointed out scratches and the state of the sealing tape, prompting verification staff to record the objections and obtain signatures. The special investigation team prevented observers from touching the box, advising them to take photos and check its condition. Objections regarding the exterior did not lead to verification of internal ballot damage or forgery.

Starting around 2 p.m., staff began to verify each ballot before placing them into a counting machine. Observers could express opinions on any irregularities but were not allowed to touch the ballots or use their own analysis tools. Ballots suspected of irregularities were recorded by staff and set aside for separate filming and evaluation after obtaining signatures from special investigation personnel.

Even after the work began, announcements regarding the scope of control continued. At 2:17 p.m., when an observer said, "I have an objection," a special investigation official checked both sides of the ballot. The observer also requested filming from the filming personnel. At 2:30 p.m., a broadcast was made requesting that attorney Do Tae-woo (an observer) comply with special investigation controls during filming, followed by instructions not to stray beyond designated areas.

Around 2:45 p.m., demands for a live broadcast from participants who could not directly verify the proceedings intensified outside the stadium. The police presence around the stadium had increased compared to the morning. Earlier, police had announced they would deploy 48 mobile units, 150 dialogue police, and 300 criminal investigation personnel to the site.

The special investigation team had previously announced that about 100 observers selected by the National Assembly would participate in the verification. However, disagreements over filming and observation scope persisted on-site, leading to adjustments in filming methods after additional consultations on the verification day.

The scope of public demands varied among citizens. A woman in her 40s participating in the rally stated, "It makes no sense to bring in Election Commission staff," calling for broader participation from the general public. In contrast, six organizations, including the Free Citizens Alliance, issued a joint statement saying, "We do not demand immediate disclosure of all investigative details," but requested that the rights of involved parties be respected while adequately explaining the basis for final judgments.

There were also calls for the special investigation team to expand its external explanations. Jo Hyun-woo, representative of the Free Citizens Alliance, remarked, "It was difficult to understand the reasons for the delays in the verification schedule," and expressed a desire for the team to provide a detailed statement on the matter. He emphasized the need for more public explanations regarding the progress of the investigation beyond the initial press conference at its launch.

It is essential to distinguish between filming restrictions and the appropriateness of scientific verification. The method outlined by the special investigation team involves initially confirming the quantity and marking/printing status of the ballots, selecting any irregular ballots for forensic examination by police and National Forensic Service personnel and equipment, and then conducting detailed evaluations. Separate investigations into the potential hacking or errors of the storage facility's CCTV analysis and ballot sorting machines will also be conducted. It cannot be concluded that the scientific verification is insufficient solely based on visual checks and counting on-site.

However, the guidance provided on-site that day focused on filming and observation scope and the sequence of operations. It was challenging to ascertain the specific criteria for classifying irregular ballots and the evaluation methods applied to the selected ballots. To ensure the credibility of the verification results, it is necessary to not only maintain filming records but also explain the criteria for selection and evaluation methods, as well as the rationale for addressing objections.