President Lee Orders Joint Investigation into Election Paper Shortage

President Lee Jae-myung announced on June 7 that he has instructed the establishment of a joint investigation team involving both the prosecution and police to clarify responsibility regarding the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections.

In a statement on Facebook, President Lee emphasized that the government will take all necessary measures at the administrative level, considering the seriousness of the situation.

He criticized the National Election Commission (NEC) for causing significant disruptions to citizens' exercise of their voting rights during the June 3 local elections, stating, "The incident itself is difficult to comprehend, and the subsequent response and explanations to the public have also been insufficient."

President Lee asserted, "The right to vote is a constitutional right that must not be restricted or violated for any reason, and this incident is a serious matter that undermines the foundation of popular sovereignty. As a citizen and as the president responsible for the government, I express my deep regret."

He also called for a national investigation by the National Assembly, urging lawmakers to promptly conduct an inquiry to clarify the facts of the case and to establish measures to prevent recurrence. He requested that discussions on fundamental institutional improvements for the NEC be included in this process.

President Lee noted that the NEC chairperson is classified as one of the five key state officials because the commission, like the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, is an independent agency with corresponding authority, obligations, and responsibilities. He emphasized, "An independent agency that has lost public trust has no reason to exist."

He concluded by stating, "The NEC must take this incident seriously and demonstrate a strong commitment to reform and improvement in its organizational operations and overall election management to regain public trust."