Wi Cheol-hwan, the acting chair of the National Election Commission, criticized the commission for its lack of capability, will, and legal authority in executing its duties.
According to Yonhap News on June 23, Wi made these remarks during a full meeting of the National Assembly's special committee investigating the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections. He responded to a question from Democratic Party lawmaker Yang Boo-nam, who suggested that the secretariat had effectively taken over major decisions, leading to a situation where the tail was wagging the dog.
Wi stated, "The current Election Commission Act is overly focused on political neutrality and oversight functions of elections," and emphasized the need to redefine the roles between the secretariat and the commission to address structural issues.
He also proposed the establishment of a full-time commissioner, noting, "Having one full-time commissioner only has voting rights during political decision-making, so how much can I know about the secretariat?"
He pointed out contradictions within the regulations, saying, "Some rules state that a full-time commissioner assists the chair in managing affairs, while others indicate that the secretary-general assists the chair in handling tasks," highlighting the inconsistencies in the laws themselves.
Wi expressed a sense of responsibility, saying, "Having worked here for a few months, I feel a heavy burden for not being able to prevent this situation," and added, "If the National Assembly provides reform proposals, I will follow them."
Currently, the Election Commission Act mandates that one of the commissioners serve as a full-time commissioner. Wi has been serving as acting chair since last October after the resignation of former chair Noh Tae-ak due to the ballot shortage crisis.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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