In the wake of ongoing controversy over a ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections, Na Tae-ak, the Chair of the National Election Commission, has resigned, taking responsibility for the crisis.
On June 5, Na announced his resignation during a public apology at the commission's office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, stating, "I feel a deep sense of responsibility for all that has transpired and will step down from my position as Chair of the National Election Commission."
He added, "The high level of public interest and active expression of will regarding local governance has been undermined by the ballot shortage. As the Chair, I feel a profound sense of despair and an immense responsibility for the erosion of public trust in election management, which has led to skepticism about the electoral process."
Na emphasized, "There is no excuse for the occurrence of an event that infringes upon the precious right of citizens to participate in elections. I will establish an investigation committee as quickly as possible to identify the fundamental causes and issues surrounding the ballot shortage and to develop measures to prevent its recurrence, ensuring that all findings are transparently disclosed."
He also pledged that the investigation committee would be composed entirely of external experts to ensure objectivity and thoroughness. Na committed to fully cooperating with any National Assembly inquiries regarding the commission's responsibilities in this matter, stating, "If there are responsibilities to be taken after the results are revealed, I will not evade them."
Following Na's announcement, the commission plans to swiftly establish an investigation committee made up of external experts to determine the causes of the crisis and propose preventive measures.
Na, who was appointed as Chair of the National Election Commission in May 2022 following the retirement of former Supreme Court Justice Na Jeong-hee, will leave office after approximately four years, failing to complete his six-year term.
On the election day of June 3, unprecedented scenes unfolded as voters were unable to cast their ballots due to a shortage of ballots at polling stations in areas such as Gangnam, Gwangjin, and Songpa districts in Seoul. Some voters, exhausted from long waits, chose to abandon their attempts to vote, raising questions about the commission's response.
Notably, far-right civic groups, including history lecturer Jeon Han-gil and former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who have long claimed electoral fraud, have been staging protests at polling stations in Songpa and the commission's office in Gwacheon. Additionally, the second polling station in Jamsil 7-dong, Songpa, which had been blocked by protesters, finally had two ballot boxes removed for counting after police deployed 1,000 riot officers over a period of two nights and three days.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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