When Jeon Han-gil, known as the 'master instructor of Korean history,' recently propagated the theory of electoral fraud raised by President Yoon Suk-yeol, criticism arose among civil servant students who attended Jeon's lectures, stating that "Jeon is spreading absurd fake news."
According to an online community on the 22nd, numerous counterarguments and concerned comments regarding Jeon's recent claims were posted by some students in the Naver cafe 'Jeon Han-gil Korean History' that he operates the day before.
A person, referred to as A, who took Jeon's classes in 2017 and currently works at the National Election Commission, said, "At that time, I thought I learned a lot from the teacher's words, but seeing what the teacher is saying now makes me wonder if I have misremembered."
A said, "If you have time on Election Day, I hope you can stop by a nearby polling station or counting center. There are people who work quietly from dawn until the next dawn, dedicated to ensuring a fair election," and added, "If you can see their efforts in person, it might provide an opportunity to reconsider your current claims."
A civil servant referred to as B, who has been in the position for five years, said, "I really can't believe how the teacher came to have such thoughts. Such statements mislead many local civil servants who respect you."
B also stated, "While working, we do so out of the fear that if even one vote is incorrect, what will happen, earning a daily wage of 100,000 won for 12 or 14 hours."
He continued, "After voting is over, it's the current civil servants who are responsible for moving the ballot boxes to designated locations, performing their duties with a sense of responsibility, and at that time, representatives from various parties participate as monitors. Those individuals inquire rigorously about anything suspicious that arises."
Another student, referred to as C, who serves as a counting staff member during nationwide elections, noted, "We also conduct manual counting. While electronic sorting is done, we count the votes by hand. Numerous monitors from various parties keep a vigilant watch throughout the counting to see if manipulations occur."
C pointed out, "Don't sell out the hardworking students, and don't let them be scorned. They are not as ignorant as you think. Isn't there a suspicion that you are the one who has been deceived?"
In response to his students' reactions, Jeon stated, "Due to those who write malicious comments without reading properly, I have no choice but to limit the space. I have already posted opinions regarding pro and anti-martial law, as well as the subsequent media, National Election Commission, and judicial issues on YouTube, so please feel free to comment there. This cafe is for civil servants studying Korean history, so I ask for your understanding."