The planned recount of ballots at Seoul's Olympic Park on August 18 has become uncertain due to the People Power Party's insistence that a special prosecutor must be involved in the process.
According to political sources on August 17, the People Power Party intends to negotiate the recount schedule with the special prosecutor, who is set to be appointed that day. The party argues that the special prosecutor, tasked with investigating the overall infringement of citizens' voting rights, should conduct the public recount alongside the National Assembly's Special Committee on the Investigation of the National Assembly's Election Management Reform (National Assembly Special Committee).
Previously, on July 30, both parties agreed to extend the National Assembly Special Committee's activity period from August 1 to August 31. They also reached a consensus to conduct a hearing (on August 10), the recount (on August 18), and adopt a report (on August 28) during this period.
However, a clash has emerged between the Democratic Party, which supports proceeding with the recount on August 18, and the People Power Party, which insists that the recount must be conducted publicly with the special prosecutor and the National Assembly Special Committee. The August 18 date was initially a tentative agreement, and the People Power Party claims that the actual date must be coordinated with the special prosecutor. The two parties have been unable to reach a conclusion on this issue despite lengthy discussions on August 10.
As a result, there is growing speculation in political circles that the recount may not proceed as planned. However, some believe that if President Lee Jae-myung appoints the special prosecutor by the legal deadline and a schedule agreement is reached between the parties and the special prosecutor, the recount could still take place as scheduled.
Meanwhile, 2.47 million ballots used during the June 3 local elections are stored inside the handball arena at Olympic Park. The National Assembly Special Committee inspected the storage situation of the ballots at the handball arena, which was used as a counting center, on August 2.
According to political sources on August 17, the People Power Party intends to negotiate the recount schedule with the special prosecutor, who is set to be appointed that day. The party argues that the special prosecutor, tasked with investigating the overall infringement of citizens' voting rights, should conduct the public recount alongside the National Assembly's Special Committee on the Investigation of the National Assembly's Election Management Reform (National Assembly Special Committee).
Previously, on July 30, both parties agreed to extend the National Assembly Special Committee's activity period from August 1 to August 31. They also reached a consensus to conduct a hearing (on August 10), the recount (on August 18), and adopt a report (on August 28) during this period.
However, a clash has emerged between the Democratic Party, which supports proceeding with the recount on August 18, and the People Power Party, which insists that the recount must be conducted publicly with the special prosecutor and the National Assembly Special Committee. The August 18 date was initially a tentative agreement, and the People Power Party claims that the actual date must be coordinated with the special prosecutor. The two parties have been unable to reach a conclusion on this issue despite lengthy discussions on August 10.
As a result, there is growing speculation in political circles that the recount may not proceed as planned. However, some believe that if President Lee Jae-myung appoints the special prosecutor by the legal deadline and a schedule agreement is reached between the parties and the special prosecutor, the recount could still take place as scheduled.
Meanwhile, 2.47 million ballots used during the June 3 local elections are stored inside the handball arena at Olympic Park. The National Assembly Special Committee inspected the storage situation of the ballots at the handball arena, which was used as a counting center, on August 2.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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