Election Commission special probe confirms falsified voter turnout entries in 30 cities, counties and districts; raids NEC and others

The special counsel team investigating the National Election Commission, led by special prosecutor Lee Tae-hoon, confirmed on the 15th that the National Election Commission had falsified hourly voter turnout figures, and launched seizure and search raids on the NEC and six other locations starting at around 9:10 a.m. the same day. The forced investigation is a follow-up to the special counsel team's visit to the NEC in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, on the 13th.

Who falsified the voter turnout figures, and why? The special counsel team stationed forensic investigators at the NEC to analyze log data of hourly voter turnout recorded in the election management system for polling stations across the country. Combined with interviews of some 70 officials at township, district, city and county election commissions, the team said it confirmed that election commissions in 30 cities, counties and districts had falsified the figures.

The special counsel team said it plans to analyze the materials secured through the raids to determine who is responsible.