On July 30, the National Assembly passed the Special Prosecutor Law aimed at investigating the shortage of ballots during the June 3 local elections. The deadline for the National Assembly's special investigation committee was also extended. A recount is set to take place on August 18.
During the afternoon session, the National Assembly voted on the "Law on the Appointment of a Special Prosecutor to Investigate Allegations of Voter Rights Violations During the 9th Nationwide Simultaneous Local Elections," with 226 votes in favor and 2 against out of 228 members present.
The special prosecutor will have 20 days from the date of appointment to prepare for the investigation and must complete the investigation within 90 days after the preparation period ends, deciding whether to file charges. If necessary, the investigation period can be extended twice, each time for 30 days.
Previously, the method for recommending the special prosecutor was agreed upon by the Democratic Party and the People Power Party on July 21. Each party will recommend three candidates to form a public recommendation committee, which will then receive recommendations for six special prosecutor candidates from the Korean Bar Association and the Council of Law Schools. The two candidates selected by bipartisan agreement will be submitted to the president for appointment.
The investigation will focus on the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections, as well as allegations of overseas trips by current and former election commission staff, preferential promotions for their children, irregular hiring practices, and issues related to the management, security, and operation of the election commission's election management system.
Additionally, the National Assembly approved the extension of the National Assembly Special Committee's activities to investigate the voter rights violations and election management reforms, with unanimous support from 225 members present. The committee's deadline, set to expire on July 31, will be extended by 30 days to accommodate the recount of 2.47 million ballots at the Jamsil counting center.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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