Message from Davos
Many South Koreans are losing faith in their country’s democratic processes.
At Davos on January 21, former President Donald Trump stated that those involved in manipulating the 2020 US election would soon face prosecution.
Now, citizens in Korea are anxiously awaiting the outcomes of these investigations, hoping that what was once dismissed as a “conspiracy theory” will be exposed as a troubling reality. This situation isn’t just a local concern; it appears to be part of a larger global scheme suspected of influencing elections.
The similarities between election fraud claims in South Korea and the United States are striking. Just as in the U.S., the mainstream media in South Korea has largely muted public skepticism about the election’s integrity, instead labeling worried citizens as far-right conspiracy theorists.
Cartels Under Judicial Protection
Despite growing evidence linking the National Election Commission (NEC) to election fraud, there’s a persistent and worrying trend. Traditionally, the head of a local election commission is chosen from among current judges, which means institutions accused of manipulation operate under a sort of judicial shield. This is a sad reality for South Korea.
When it comes to election invalidation cases, South Korean judges seem unwilling to acknowledge significant issues within the NEC. They probably worry that such admissions could reflect poorly not just on them, but also on their colleagues. Consequently, courts have often dismissed challenges to invalidate elections.
It’s becoming increasingly tough to trust the judiciary in South Korea to make impartial and lawful decisions regarding elections.
For the past six years, the leftist Democratic Party and its allies have achieved remarkable victories in every parliamentary election, a trend that’s quite unprecedented in the nation’s modern political history.
These outcomes have been heavily influenced by an early voting system resembling the U.S. mail-in voting processes. President Yoon Seok-yeol’s campaign, which was expected to win decisively, ended with a mere 0.73% margin.
During this time, the efforts of the citizen watchdog group I helped form, known as the Electoral Justice and Anti-Corruption Force, along with dedicated citizens, proved instrumental.
Evidence Denied, President Besieged
In December 2024, President Yoon Seok-yeol declared martial law and ordered troops to search the NEC for evidence of election fraud. Sadly, reports indicate that the military was unable to access the NEC’s computer servers.
Following this, leftists attempted to impeach President Yoon and even called for the death penalty against him for sedition.
So, who’s pulling the strings? I believe pro-North Korean forces within South Korea, along with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), are involved.
Puppet Makers in Beijing and Pyongyang
One of the initial promoters of electronic ballot sorting machines in South Korea co-authored research on big data-driven election campaigns with a left-wing figure previously connected to North Korean espionage and who had managed a South Korean firm in Beijing for many years.
China’s influence operations have become increasingly apparent. Notably, the NEC’s official YouTube channel once featured Wang Huning, a senior CCP official known for orchestrating influence efforts, in its “Democracy and Leadership” series. Many Koreans were stunned to learn of his involvement.
If China is ready to meddle in elections in Canada, located 6,500 miles away, it’s hard to believe they would shy away from intervening closer to home, especially when South Korea is less than 900 miles from Beijing and hosts one of the largest U.S. military bases at Camp Humphreys.
A Warning That America Cannot Ignore
Korea’s modernization drew heavily from the efforts of American missionaries. The country has transformed into a success story, achieving democracy and economic growth largely due to U.N. and U.S. military intervention during the Korean War.
Today, South Korea stands out globally for its achievements in missionary work and cutting-edge technology. However, these hard-earned successes are now under threat from the communist regimes in North Korea and China, which are believed to be looking to establish puppet governments through election manipulation—outcomes that clash with U.S. national interests.
Currently, South Korea feels paralyzed. The separation of powers is diminishing and the rule of law is deteriorating.
The Lee Jae-myung government and the legislature, accused of benefiting from election fraud, have resisted reforms of the early voting system to cling to power.
As former President Trump discusses the importance of election integrity, I respectfully urge him to clearly state that this international cartel is implicated in corrupting not just American elections but also those in South Korea, which is a crucial ally. Such a statement could catalyze a thorough investigation into election fraud in South Korea.
Over the last five years, I’ve done everything in my power to shine a light on this issue, and I’m convinced that election fraud is happening. Much like a Korean drama filled with twists, the struggle for electoral fairness in South Korea will ultimately lead to the people’s victory.
Hwang Gyo-an currently leads the Freedom and Innovation Party and has served as Prime Minister and Acting President of South Korea. He has long championed election integrity and democratic governance in East Asia.
