Police seize bulk of local election files in sweeping search of Seoul election body

By Jung Joo-won, The Herald Business

A police search and seizure operation targeting the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission in Jongno-gu continued into Thursday afternoon as investigators probing the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections secured a large volume of electronic files and planning documents related to the vote.

According to a Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission official, police seized CDs, electronic files, ballot printing plans, various planning documents, budget proposals and certification-related materials connected to the June 3 local elections. "I glanced at the warrant and everything related to the local elections was covered," the official said. "There was nothing from last year or other elections — it was strictly limited to this year's June 3 local elections."

Police obtained local election data stored on the commission's internal network folder by folder, sources said. "They took entire folders of documents and electronic files related to the local elections," the official said, adding that files stored on computers were forensically compressed and extracted.

The search covered the commission's general affairs division, elections division and the secretary-general's office. The guidance and public relations divisions were excluded. Computers belonging to the secretary-general and division chief-level staff were also included in the scope of the search.

The warrant named as suspects the chairperson and secretary-general of the National Election Commission in Gwacheon, as well as the chairpersons and directors of the district election commissions in Songpa, Gwangjin, Gangnam, Seocho and Dongjak-gu, sources said. "The district-level commissions listed the chairperson and director, while the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission listed the chairperson and secretary-general — in the same format," the official said.

Personal mobile phones were not subject to seizure, though investigators confirmed whether official work contact channels had been used. The warrant was shown to staff for viewing only, with the investigation team retaining possession throughout the search.

Discontent surfaced inside the commission over staff being left to handle the search without legal support. "Employees are dealing with this on the ground without even a lawyer present," one official said.

The search also disrupted some public services at the commission. Kim Hyeon-uk, party leader of People's Unity, visited the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission around 1:30 p.m. Thursday to file an accounting report and found himself caught up in the disruption. "Even if the ballot shortage is under investigation, candidate-related work must continue," he said. "The election commission needs to overhaul its entire system." Kim was later directed by commission staff to the relevant department.