The National Assembly's special committee on the investigation into the voting paper shortage during the June 3 local elections convened on July 8 to discuss reforms to the election management system. Experts unanimously called for an increase in the number of full-time members of the Election Commission. However, opinions were divided on the proposal to abolish early voting, as advocated by the ruling People Power Party.
The special committee held a meeting with eight experts recommended by both the ruling and opposition parties to explore improvements to the structure and management system of the Election Commission. Experts pointed out that the Commission, despite being a consensus-based body, is primarily composed of non-permanent members, leading to unclear accountability.
Professor Lim Ji-bong from Sogang University Law School stated, "The Constitution mandates that the Election Commission operates as a consensus-based body, but in practice, it has been led by one full-time member and one secretary general. This has created a situation where it has become a no-go zone for oversight and monitoring, which is the root cause of this incident."
Professor Cha Jin-ah from Korea University Law School suggested, "Through amendments to the Election Commission Act, we can make all or some of the commission members full-time. The chairperson of the Commission should ideally be selected from among the full-time members nominated by the Chief Justice to ensure political neutrality and fairness."
While there was consensus among experts on clarifying accountability through the full-time status of commission members, opinions diverged on the issue of abolishing early voting. Emeritus Professor Jung Tae-ho from Kyung Hee University Law School argued, "There is no perfect voting and counting system. To point out issues and revert to the past would undermine the efforts made to realize a universal suffrage system."
Conversely, Moon Sang-bu, a senior advisor at the law firm Daeryuk Aju, highlighted ongoing fairness controversies surrounding early voting and advocated for its abolition. He stated, "We can eliminate early voting and conduct the main voting over two days, incorporating the advantages of early voting into the main voting process."
Meanwhile, Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, attended a meeting with youth organizations in Incheon on the voting paper shortage. He asserted that he would push for a special prosecutor recommended by the opposition, a re-election, and the abolition of early voting, while also announcing plans to visit other regions, including Busan, Gwangju, Daegu, and North Gyeongsang Province.
Jang emphasized, "If the truth is revealed through a special prosecutor, it will ultimately show that the core of this incident lies with President Lee Jae-myung, and the accomplice is the Democratic Party. We cannot establish true democracy unless we break the election cartel that binds the President, the Democratic Party, and the Election Commission together."
The special committee held a meeting with eight experts recommended by both the ruling and opposition parties to explore improvements to the structure and management system of the Election Commission. Experts pointed out that the Commission, despite being a consensus-based body, is primarily composed of non-permanent members, leading to unclear accountability.
Professor Lim Ji-bong from Sogang University Law School stated, "The Constitution mandates that the Election Commission operates as a consensus-based body, but in practice, it has been led by one full-time member and one secretary general. This has created a situation where it has become a no-go zone for oversight and monitoring, which is the root cause of this incident."
Professor Cha Jin-ah from Korea University Law School suggested, "Through amendments to the Election Commission Act, we can make all or some of the commission members full-time. The chairperson of the Commission should ideally be selected from among the full-time members nominated by the Chief Justice to ensure political neutrality and fairness."
While there was consensus among experts on clarifying accountability through the full-time status of commission members, opinions diverged on the issue of abolishing early voting. Emeritus Professor Jung Tae-ho from Kyung Hee University Law School argued, "There is no perfect voting and counting system. To point out issues and revert to the past would undermine the efforts made to realize a universal suffrage system."
Conversely, Moon Sang-bu, a senior advisor at the law firm Daeryuk Aju, highlighted ongoing fairness controversies surrounding early voting and advocated for its abolition. He stated, "We can eliminate early voting and conduct the main voting over two days, incorporating the advantages of early voting into the main voting process."
Meanwhile, Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, attended a meeting with youth organizations in Incheon on the voting paper shortage. He asserted that he would push for a special prosecutor recommended by the opposition, a re-election, and the abolition of early voting, while also announcing plans to visit other regions, including Busan, Gwangju, Daegu, and North Gyeongsang Province.
Jang emphasized, "If the truth is revealed through a special prosecutor, it will ultimately show that the core of this incident lies with President Lee Jae-myung, and the accomplice is the Democratic Party. We cannot establish true democracy unless we break the election cartel that binds the President, the Democratic Party, and the Election Commission together."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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