Chief Judge O Min-seok Apologizes for Voting Paper Shortage

O Min-seok, the Chief Judge of the Seoul Central District Court, expressed regret over the shortage of voting papers that occurred during the June 3 local elections, which he oversaw as the head of the Seoul Election Commission.

During a National Assembly audit on October 16, Park Eun-jung, a member of the Justice Innovation Party, focused on the Election Commission's mismanagement during the elections. She pressed O for accountability regarding the administrative failures that led to the voting paper shortage.

In response, O acknowledged his shortcomings as the election manager. He stated, "I believe I must apologize to the public for not managing the elections properly as the head of the Election Commission," and added, "I feel deeply sorry for the issues caused by the shortage of voting papers."

O addressed criticisms regarding his absence from the national investigation hearing held shortly after the elections, explaining that a misunderstanding arose due to a lack of prior notification. He assured that he participated diligently in subsequent investigations.

Previously, O resigned from his position as the head of the Seoul Election Commission on June 5, just two days after the elections, due to the mismanagement of voting paper supplies.

The audit also highlighted recent issues regarding the investigation into the Election Commission, where search warrants related to allegations of improper receipt of activity fees by senior judges were repeatedly rejected. Park emphasized the need for strict scrutiny of the warrant process to ensure a thorough investigation, stating, "There should not be any favoritism towards individuals from the judiciary."

In response, O countered that the examination of warrants by the judiciary is entirely based on the independent legal judgment of the judges assigned to those cases. He asserted that even as Chief Judge, he cannot influence or intervene in individual warrant proceedings.