Jung Cheong-rae, the leader of the Democratic Party, urged the National Election Commission on June 10 to actively cooperate with national investigations and special prosecutors regarding the recent ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections. He vowed to utilize all means necessary to thoroughly uncover the truth behind the incident. Additionally, he announced the establishment of an internal evaluation committee to publish a white paper reflecting on the local elections.
During a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly, Jung stated, "The spirit of popular sovereignty and democracy must never be compromised for any reason," adding that the ballot shortage incident has left an indelible stain on the history of exemplary democracy.
He criticized the Election Commission for failing to adequately manage the precious right to vote, saying, "While the commission was granted constitutional independence to manage votes rigorously, its inadequate response has severely infringed on voting rights. This is a serious matter that undermines the foundation of our constitutional order. It is unacceptable."
Jung emphasized the need for comprehensive reform of the electoral management system, stating that the party will mobilize all resources to achieve this goal.
He remarked, "Organizations that lack the will and ability to reform themselves will be phased out. We must decisively cut away the infected parts and implement fundamental reforms in the election management system. The Democratic Party will utilize all means to ascertain the facts and initiate structural reforms, focusing on restoring public trust through improvements in laws and systems. I urge the Election Commission to actively cooperate with national investigations and special prosecutors."
He acknowledged the evaluations raised both within and outside the party regarding the results of the June 3 local elections, expressing agreement while also committing to a calm and thorough assessment through the newly established evaluation committee.
Jung concluded, "I resonate with the evaluations and perceptions regarding the local elections. We will reflect where necessary and take responsibility. To ensure a comprehensive analysis and objective diagnosis, we will establish an evaluation committee and publish a white paper."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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