Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over Timing of Recount of 2.47 Million Ballots

The ruling and opposition parties engaged in a heated debate over the timing of a public recount of 2.47 million ballots from the June 3 local elections, currently stored at the Handball Stadium in Olympic Park, Songpa District, Seoul. During the first hearing of the National Investigation Committee (NIC) on the alleged violation of citizens' voting rights and election management reforms, the ruling party advocated for an "immediate recount," while the opposition party insisted on conducting it "in conjunction with a special investigation."
Yoon Sang-hyun, chair of the NIC, urged during the hearing on July 14 that "we must conclude discussions on the public recount of the 2.47 million ballots stored underground at the Handball Stadium," adding that since the Election Commission has submitted a verification plan for the recount, both parties should quickly agree on the verification method and schedule to present it to the public.
He emphasized that the Election Commission should maintain an open attitude toward thoroughly conducting a public recount of ballots amid allegations of twin votes. He also stated that the special investigation should not be delayed, proposing a resolution to expedite the processing of the special investigation law with the agreement of both parties' NIC secretaries.
However, since the ruling and opposition parties have differing views on the timing and method of the public recount, further discussions appear necessary. The Democratic Party has stated that if any issues arise during the recount process, they should be addressed within the NIC, insisting that the recount should take place before the second hearing scheduled for July 22.
Yoon Geon-young, a Democratic Party lawmaker and NIC secretary, remarked, "The unified voice of the Democratic Party is to conduct an immediate recount," adding that if the special investigation is to be effective, it would require nearly a month. He suggested that if both the special investigation and the recount must occur together, then both should happen right now.
Democratic lawmaker Lee Hae-sik also noted, "The recount by the special investigation is part of the investigation process, so how can it be made public? Moreover, there will be those who do not trust the results." He advocated for the NIC to allow for observation and filming, and potentially live broadcasting, to ensure fairness and transparency.
In contrast, Choi Bo-yoon, a People Power Party lawmaker, cautioned that the NIC's duration could be extended through committee decisions, raising concerns about how to handle any discrepancies in the recount results and whether to relocate the ballots afterward, and if so, to where.
Joo Jin-woo, also from the People Power Party, emphasized that conducting a recount before the special investigation is launched could compromise the integrity of evidence related to the investigation, potentially eroding public trust. He stressed that this is not something that can be rushed, asserting that the special investigation should take precedence.
In this context, Seobum-soo, the NIC secretary from the People Power Party, suggested that the best approach would be to conduct the national investigation and the special investigation concurrently, proposing that if the special investigation takes a long time, a separate date could be set during the NIC's duration for public verification.
Meanwhile, during the hearing, the Central Election Commission stated that a public recount is feasible regarding the so-called "twin votes," where identical vote counts were recorded at multiple polling stations. Kang Dong-wan, acting secretary-general of the Central Election Commission, noted, "If it proceeds according to the verification procedures under the law regarding testimony and appraisal in the National Assembly, it is possible."