The administration of President Yoon Suk Yeol has reportedly confirmed, for the first time, evidence of election manipulation involving the central election commission's server through forensic analysis.
This marks the first time in South Korea’s constitutional history that the government has substantiated allegations of election fraud via "computer system manipulation," which initially emerged after the general election on April 15, 2020.
According to a report by Sky Daily on the 5th, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) discovered records of fraudulent election activities through partial forensic investigations of the central election commission’s server during joint security inspections conducted between July and September last year.
An anonymous source revealed that the NIS urgently reported its forensic findings to the presidential office at the time, confirming election fraud through a forensic analysis of 5% of the commission's servers.
However, under the Moon Jae-in administration, the investigative capabilities of the NIS had been significantly reduced, preventing it from initiating an immediate investigation. Additionally, the presidential office did not promptly transfer the case to the prosecution.
The source explained, "The NIS, whose anti-espionage functions had been largely rendered ineffective, intended to hand over the case to the prosecution via a report to the president. However, the presidential office delayed transferring the matter, holding onto it for some time."
Prosecutors require a search and seizure warrant issued by the courts to conduct investigations. Concerns were raised that the courts might obstruct the issuance of such warrants, even if requested by the prosecution.
Under the current system, senior judges, including Supreme Court justices and heads of lower courts, simultaneously serve as chairs of election commissions, potentially linking judiciary members to the alleged election fraud network. Numerous election fraud lawsuits filed to date have often been dismissed by the courts.
However, under martial law, search and seizure operations can proceed without court-issued warrants.
Speculation has arisen that President Yoon's recent martial law declaration may be connected to the ongoing election fraud investigation.
On the night of the 3rd, President Yoon declared martial law in a national address, and by the early hours of the 4th, the National Assembly had passed a resolution calling for its termination.
Following the declaration, at approximately 12:30 a.m. on the 4th, around 120 martial law soldiers and 100 police officers entered the central election commission headquarters in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province.
Earlier, more than 10 special agents, believed to be part of an elite unit, stormed the commission just two minutes after Yoon’s martial law declaration at 10:30 p.m. on the 3rd.
Additionally, about 50 martial law soldiers were deployed to the election commission branch office in Gwanak, and around 130 soldiers and 100 police officers entered the Election Training Institute in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, all before the National Assembly’s resolution. These actions suggest that the election commission was effectively seized before the legislative decision.
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