"Needs Change Beyond Politics"... Former "Chungju Man" Kim Seontae Criticizes Election Commission

"I Suffered Greatly from the Election Commission as a Public Servant"


"Not a Political Issue... The System Needs Change," He Emphasizes

YouTuber Kim Seontae, previously known as "Chungju Man," disclosed his experiences carrying out election-related work during his tenure as a public servant and argued that the methods used by the Election Commission in running its election operations need improvement.

On July 17, Kim Seontae released a video on his YouTube channel in which he said, "I have a lot to say about elections. As a public servant, I experienced many situations firsthand," adding, "I have suffered a great deal because of the Election Commission. I can't go into details, but there were many things that made me angry."

Formerly known as 'Chungju Man,' YouTuber Suntae Kim argued that improvements are needed in the election management committee's election office operations. Screenshot from Suntae Kim's YouTube channel

He pointed out the current reality in which a significant portion of election-related work is delegated to local government employees. Kim Seontae explained, "Election Commission staff frequently delegate election work to local governments," and added, "From putting up election posters to preparing for advance voting and installing polling booths and ballot boxes, most of these tasks were handled by local government officials."

He continued, "I believe suffrage must be guaranteed without exception," but also emphasized, "There are serious issues with the current system. Setting aside political considerations, I think the system itself needs fundamental change."

He also cautioned against interpreting his comments as politically motivated, saying, "If I talk about these things, won't people just call me 'Right-wing Man' again?"

In February of this year, Kim Seontae ended his nine-year career in public service and has since been active on his personal YouTube channel.

YouTuber Kim Seontae, known as the 'Chungju Man', claimed that the election commission's election office operation methods need improvement. Screenshot from Kim Seontae's YouTube channel

Meanwhile, the issue of delegating election work—which Kim Seontae mentioned—has recently become a contentious topic among front-line public officials. The Korean Government Employees' Union is demanding system reforms, stating that with the Election Commission assigning election office tasks to local government, the work burden on local government employees has become excessive.

Last month in front of the Seoul Election Commission, the union held a press conference calling for an immediate end to the delegated election office system. Union leader Lee Haejun stated, "Under the current structure, public employees are effectively forced to take on all responsibilities related to election work."

Lee also said, "If the current system continues, it will be difficult for us to continue participating in election work." He further called for improvements to the treatment of election workers and for more realistic compensation for their duties.

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