On June 10, the National Public Workers' Union (Jeongongno) held a press conference in front of the Seoul Election Commission, demanding a complete overhaul of the election management system in response to a shortage of ballots during the June 3 local elections. They warned that if improvements are not made, they will refuse to participate in future election duties.
Jeongongno Chairman Lee Hae-jun stated, "Public workers can no longer participate in election duties under a flawed election system." He criticized the Central Election Management Commission for maintaining its authority while shifting key responsibilities and accountability for election operations to local government employees, asserting that this dysfunctional structure is at the core of the current crisis.
The union also criticized the Election Commission for neglecting fundamental tasks, such as calculating the number of voters at polling stations, while focusing on measures like installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) to address allegations of electoral fraud.
Kim Byeong-cheol, head of the Songpa District branch, emphasized the need for electronic voting, stating, "It is difficult to resolve issues with the current paper-based public notices and voting methods."
Jeongongno argued that the current situation stems from structural problems and practices within the Election Commission and called for significant reforms, including the suspension of the current election agency system and organizational restructuring. They also urged a shift to a system where the Election Commission directly assumes responsibility for election tasks, along with improvements in the treatment and compensation of election workers.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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