Election Worker Arrested for Proxy Voting in Presidential Election

On June 1, 2025, an election worker was arrested for proxy voting using her husband's identification on the first day of early voting for the 21st presidential election in South Korea. The Seoul Central District Court, presided over by Judge Yeom Hye-soo, issued a warrant for the 60-year-old woman, identified as Park, citing concerns over potential evidence tampering and flight risk.

Park allegedly obtained a ballot using her husband's ID at a polling station in Daechi-dong, Gangnam District, around noon on May 29, and then cast her own vote using her identification approximately five hours later. As a contract employee at the Gangnam District Health Center, she was appointed as an election worker responsible for issuing ballots, which facilitated her actions. However, her double voting was flagged by an observer who found it suspicious.

When questioned by reporters upon her court appearance, Park expressed remorse, stating, "I am sorry" when asked why she committed proxy voting. She denied colluding with her husband and claimed that her actions were not premeditated, saying, "It was a momentary wrong choice. I had no idea it was illegal." Park also mentioned that she had never engaged in proxy voting during her previous tenure as an election worker.

The police plan to investigate whether Park had committed similar fraudulent acts during her previous role as an election worker in the 22nd National Assembly elections at the Samsung 2-dong early voting site.

According to Article 248 of the Public Official Election Act, individuals who vote using a false identity or forged identification can face up to five years in prison or fines of up to 10 million won. If the offender is a public official involved in election duties, as in Park's case, the penalty can increase to a maximum of seven years in prison.