Opposition files election law complaint against President Lee jae-myung

South Korea’s People Power Party filed a complaint against President Lee Jae-myung on May 31, accusing him of violating election law after he exposed a partially stamped ballot during early voting for the June 3 local elections. Party officials, including Chairman Jang Dong-hyeok, submitted the complaint to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, alleging breaches of the Public Official Election Act. The incident occurred on May 30 when Lee stepped out of a voting booth and asked an election official whether a ballot with a visible stamp would still be valid. The opposition claims this violated secret voting principles and election law provisions prohibiting disclosure of marked ballots. Jang stated the matter was not about Lee alone but about upholding electoral integrity. The People Power Party also criticized Lee’s recent public appearances, such as visits to traditional markets, arguing they may violate restrictions on election involvement by public officials. Additionally, the party accused election officials at the polling station of failing to address the ballot exposure properly, suggesting they could face allegations of dereliction of duty. The National Election Commission previously stated Lee did not intentionally expose the ballot or leave the polling station, asserting the incident did not constitute a legal violation. The commission noted Lee completed voting after receiving guidance from officials. The ruling Democratic Party dismissed the opposition’s claims, arguing Lee only sought confirmation about the stamp’s validity and did not endorse any candidate. The dispute has heightened political tensions ahead of the local elections, viewed as a key test of public support for Lee’s government. The opposition insists the complaint is necessary to protect election laws, while the ruling party frames it as an attempt to politicize a minor incident.