"What Would Those Ignorant People Know? They Won't Notice If We Don't Give Them Ballots"…Drama Scene Resurfaces Amid Ballot Shortage Crisis

Aftermath of Election Commission's 'Ballot Paper Shortage' Continues
Scene from 2003 Drama "Yainshidae" Resurfaces

A scene from episode 121 of the drama 'Yainshidae.' Screenshot from the YouTube channel 'SBS Old Dramas - Backed.'

The fallout from the 'ballot paper shortage incident' that occurred during the main voting process of the 6·3 9th Nationwide Local Elections is growing rapidly. Amidst a string of criticisms labeling this incident as a "disaster caused by the complacent administration of the National Election Commission," public outrage is intensifying, with even scenes of election rigging from past dramas being recalled.

On June 5, various social media platforms saw the rapid spread of a scene from episode 121 of the SBS drama 'Yainshidae,' which aired in September 2003. The scene depicts political gangster Im Hwa-soo conspiring with his subordinates to manipulate votes ahead of the 3·15 fraudulent election in 1960.

In the drama, one subordinate expresses concern to Im Hwa-soo's remark, "The Liberal Party has decided to conduct early voting for 40% of the total ballots," by saying, "We need to take that many ballots for ourselves, but will the people stay quiet if they don't receive their ballot papers?" Im Hwa-soo then sneers and replies, "What would those ignorant people know? If the ballot papers don't come out, they'll probably just think that's how it is."

A scene from episode 121 of the drama 'Yainsidae'. Captured from the YouTube channel 'SBS Old Dramas - Baekdeu'.

Netizens are venting their anger, saying that the depiction of ballot papers being diverted to completely block citizens' voting rights in the drama coincides uncannily with the situation of voters who were unable to cast their ballots due to the ballot paper shortage in reality.

However, it should be noted that the drama scene dramatizes the intentional election fraud of the 1960 Liberal Party regime, whereas the current incident fundamentally differs in that it originated from an administrative error caused by insufficient ballot printing.

'Ballot Paper Shortage'—An Unprecedented Crisis in Constitutional History... National Election Commission: "Only 50% of Ballots Printed for Eligible Voters"

Previously, on June 3, 14 polling stations in Songpa-gu, Gangnam-gu, Gwangjin-gu in Seoul and other districts experienced severe chaos as the prepared ballot papers were exhausted early, leading to a temporary suspension of voting. The National Election Commission belatedly rushed to deliver additional ballot papers and implemented temporary measures to allow voting even after the official closing time.

As the controversy grew, Heo Cheol-hoon, Secretary General of the National Election Commission, issued a public apology. Heo bowed his head and said, "I feel a deep sense of responsibility for undermining the public's trust in the fair management of elections," and acknowledged the administrative failure by adding, "It has been confirmed that ballots were printed for only 50% of eligible voters in Songpa-gu, Seoul. We will thoroughly investigate why there was a shortage."

Ruling and Opposition Parties United in Criticizing the Commission

The political community is also raising its voice in unison. The People Power Party criticized, "This is a shocking incident that should never happen, nor should ever be allowed to happen, at a polling station in the Republic of Korea in 2026," and added, "The fact that voters were unable to cast their ballots due to a ballot paper shortage on election day is an appalling failure that goes far beyond mere lack of preparation, amounting to an abdication of duty."

The Democratic Party of Korea also remarked, "This is an unprecedented case of incompetence, with the sovereign's right to vote being completely blocked due to a lack of ballot papers," and pointed out, "The National Election Commission should not attempt to cover up the incident with a simple apology, but must conduct a thorough investigation and hold those responsible accountable, regardless of their rank or position."

On the 29th of last month, the early voting day for the 9th nationwide local elections, a traveler cast a vote at the early voting station set up in the Terminal 2 passenger tunnel of Incheon International Airport. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

President Lee Jaemyung also strongly criticized the National Election Commission's mismanagement during a meeting of senior secretaries at the Blue House that afternoon. President Lee stated, "Every state agency has a duty to make the utmost preparations so that there is not the slightest gap in the sacred exercise of the people's right to vote," and added, "I express deep regret over the occurrence of incomprehensible shortcomings in election management, which should be carried out with the utmost thoroughness in a democratic republic."

He continued, "Relevant agencies should use all the authority and responsibility vested in the administration to clearly identify the reasons for the incident and ensure that those responsible are held fully accountable. I urge that credible and appropriate measures be swiftly put in place so that not even the slightest infringement of the people's right to vote ever occurs again."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.