Online Reviews Surface Amidst Election Irregularities
As criticism mounts against the National Election Commission (NEC) due to issues like ballot paper shortages and inaccuracies in vote tabulation during the recent 6.3 nationwide local elections, a series of online reviews attributed to former NEC employees have resurfaced. These posts, circulating widely on online communities and social media, are reigniting debate over the commission’s internal practices.
Employee Testimonials Detail Allegations of Favoritism
Captured screenshots show reviews posted by individuals identifying themselves as former NEC staff. One review, under the title “Honestly Speaking,” awarded one star and contained startling claims. The author alleged that individuals gained employment through familial connections, stating, “We got in through my grandfather’s backing.” The review further detailed, “Looking around the company, everyone from my generation has connections, from nepotism to other forms of favoritism.” The same author cited the company culture as both a strength and weakness, stating, “A family-like company is both the strength and weakness of this firm.” The sole positive point mentioned was a sense of “great guilt and self-reproach due to the unethical treatment.”
Election Commission Under Fire for Recent Failures
The NEC has been at the center of controversy following recent election management failures. During the 6.3 local elections, some polling stations experienced ballot paper shortages, leading to voters having to wait or being unable to cast their ballots. Furthermore, inaccuracies in vote result reporting were confirmed in elections for the Jeonbuk and Gyeonggi Provincial Education Superintendents.
Resurfaced Reviews Echo Past Hiring Scandals
These online testimonials, with phrases like “grandfather’s backing” and “nepotism,” are drawing renewed attention, particularly in light of past allegations of preferential hiring for children of high-ranking NEC officials. These hiring controversies have been a recurring issue for the commission.
Government Audit Revealed Widespread Irregularities
A government audit conducted previously had already highlighted significant issues within the NEC’s hiring processes. In February of last year, the Board of Audit and Inspection released its findings on the “State of Personnel Management, Including Recruitment at the National Election Commission.” The report detailed allegations of preferential hiring requests from family and relatives, manipulation of interview scores, and the fabrication or destruction of evidence related to personnel matters across seven city and provincial election commissions. The audit recommended disciplinary action for 32 current and former employees implicated in these hiring irregularities and referred the facts of the misconduct.
Findings Point to Influence Peddling in Hiring
The audit results indicated that high-ranking NEC officials and mid-level managers had exerted influence over the hiring of their relatives. It was also noted that those responsible for human resources and recruitment had employed illegal or improper methods. In some cases, the children of high-ranking officials were reportedly hired through processes that provided them with an advantage over other candidates, with preferential treatment observed in the composition of interview panels and evaluation methods.
Past Apologies and Contention Over Oversight
In March of last year, the then-Chairman of the NEC, Noh Tae-ak, issued a public apology regarding the preferential hiring of children of high-ranking officials. While acknowledging that there were no legal grounds to dismiss the employees hired under these preferential circumstances, the NEC stated that their actions were not in line with public expectations and proceeded with reassignment measures. The NEC had previously clashed with the Board of Audit and Inspection over the audit itself. In June of last year, the NEC argued that it was difficult to comply with the audit’s on-site inspection, citing its status as an independent constitutional body. The Board of Audit and Inspection countered that, according to the Audit and Inspection Act, the NEC is included in the scope of on-site inspections and warned of strict measures if information was not provided.
Legal Battles Over Audit Authority
As the controversy intensified, the NEC partially accepted the audit’s findings regarding the preferential hiring of relatives in the same month. However, the commission sought a judicial ruling on whether the Board of Audit and Inspection had the authority to conduct on-site inspections of the NEC, leading to a legal dispute. In February of this year, the court ruled in favor of the NEC, determining that the Board of Audit and Inspection’s on-site inspections from June 2023 to February 2025 infringed upon the NEC’s right to independently carry out its duties. The court concluded that the Board of Audit and Inspection does not possess the authority to conduct direct oversight of the NEC.
Ongoing Questions About External Oversight
Consequently, separate from the audit findings, legal questions remain regarding the methods of external oversight and control over the NEC. The authenticity of the individuals posting the recent online reviews, claiming to be former employees, has not been verified. Nevertheless, these rapidly disseminated posts, occurring alongside reports of ballot shortages and tabulation errors, are being seen as a stark illustration of the widespread public distrust in the overall operations of the NEC.
