Lawmakers from both parties harshly criticized the National Election Commission (NEC) for the shortage of ballots during the June 3 local elections and its reform measures.
During the NEC's audit at the National Assembly's Administrative Safety Committee on October 7, Park Sang-woong, a member of the People Power Party, stated, "The chaos related to the NEC's operations during the local elections has turned South Korea's democracy into a laughingstock worldwide." He added, "The NEC has been using phrases like 'we are ashamed' and 'we will reform ourselves,' but that is not enough."
Yang Boo-nam, a member of the Democratic Party, pointed out that while the ruling party demanded that the NEC decide on the number of ballots to be printed, this requirement was omitted from recently revised regulations. He criticized the NEC members for lacking the will to perform their duties or to improve.
Democratic Party member Kim Young-bae called for a public recount of the ballots stored at the Songpa-gu counting center during the June 3 local elections. He announced, "I will propose a resolution today, signed by all Democratic Party members of the Administrative Safety Committee, urging for a public recount verification of the ballots stored at the counting center," and requested cooperation from the People Power Party to allow the NEC to conduct a public recount through a committee vote.
Both parties raised concerns about the NEC's lackadaisical attitude toward submitting audit materials.
Park Joo-min, a Democratic Party member, criticized the NEC for poorly managing political donations and failing to submit requested materials, stating, "It is unacceptable to ask us to trust them while they neglect their responsibilities and do not provide the necessary documents."
Kwon Young-jin, a member of the People Power Party, highlighted the issue of NEC employees involved in hiring scandals receiving legal fees covered by public employee liability insurance. When Kang Dong-wan, the acting secretary-general of the NEC, stated that he could not officially disclose the status of the employees under investigation, Kwon criticized, "It is unreasonable for the NEC to claim they know nothing about this; it is a dereliction of duty."
Meanwhile, the opposition party is insisting that Im Eun-jung, the head of the Gwangju District Special Investigation Office, be called as a witness at the confirmation hearing for Kim Ji-yong, the nominee for the inaugural head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, scheduled for October 14.
Park Sang-woong remarked, "Although the People Power Party requested Im to be a witness, it is regrettable that the Democratic Party is opposing this," asserting that a hearing avoiding uncomfortable testimonies cannot be considered a proper verification process and urging cooperation from the ruling party.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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