Seoul: The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) has lodged a formal complaint with the police against President Lee Jae Myung, accusing him of breaching election laws by allegedly revealing his ballot paper during early voting for the forthcoming local elections.

According to Yonhap News Agency, PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok submitted the complaint, targeting both President Lee and officials from the National Election Commission (NEC). The complaint is based on alleged violations of the Public Official Election Act. The incident in question occurred on Friday when President Lee, accompanied by First Lady Kim Hea Kyung, went to a neighborhood community center near Cheong Wa Dae to participate in early voting for the June 3 local elections.

The controversy arose when President Lee, after entering a voting booth, briefly stepped out to inquire with an election official whether his ballot would remain valid due to a partially visible stamp on the ballot paper. The PPP contends that this action infringed upon the principle of ballot secrecy, a crucial aspect of the election process.

The ruling Democratic Party (DP) has dismissed the allegations as baseless. "The election committee said there were no legal violations," stated Rep. Jung Chung-rae, leader of the DP, during a campaign event in Hadong, approximately 285 kilometers south of Seoul. Jung further criticized the PPP, suggesting that filing such a complaint over a minor incident might not aid their efforts to secure more votes in the upcoming elections.