June 9 Legislative Report: Ballot Shortages in June 3 Local Elections Spark Heated Special Prosecutor, Inquiry Debates

June 3 Local Election Fallout: Special Prosecutor, Parliamentary Inquiry Debates Heat Up in Parliament

Amidst the recent shortage of ballots during the June 3 local elections, parliamentary discussions on special prosecutor legislation and a state inquiry are actively underway. This issue, directly linked to the reliability of the election management system, is poised to become a major political focal point. The People Power Party and the Democratic Party of Korea have both announced their intentions to propose special prosecutor bills or pursue a state inquiry as party platforms, accelerating parliamentary efforts to uncover the truth behind the situation.

The People Power Party has proposed the 'Act on the Appointment of Special Prosecutors for the Investigation into the Truth of Allegations of Election Irregularities and Infringement of Citizens' Right to Vote in the 9th National Simultaneous Local Elections' as a party bill. This legislation covers not only the ballot shortage incident but also the entire post-election response process. Specifically, it includes investigations into the ballot shortage, allegations of forced vote counting without deferral, and suspected excessive use of public authority against citizens who requested ballot preservation. Furthermore, the party has made it clear that the Democratic Party of Korea will be excluded from the process of recommending special prosecutor candidates, signaling deep distrust in the fairness of election management. Rep. Ju Jin-woo stated at a press conference, "Allegations that extremely improbable events occurred, such as the same number of votes appearing in pre-election counts, are also subject to investigation," and emphasized, "All issues raised by the media are included in the scope of the investigation."

The Democratic Party of Korea has also announced its plan to swiftly pursue a state inquiry into the ballot shortage. Floor Leader Han Byung-do described the situation as a "tragedy that has critically damaged both Korean democracy and the right to vote," outlining a plan to present the state inquiry proposal at a plenary session this week and vote on it next week. The Democratic Party highlights the constitutional responsibilities of the National Election Commission and argues for a comprehensive reform of the election management system, beyond mere administrative errors or oversights. To this end, they are initiating revisions to the Public Official Election Act and the Election Management Committee Act, and plan to establish a separate Election System Reform Task Force (TF). National Assembly Speaker Choong-sik Kim also indicated thorough parliamentary action, mentioning to Chief of Staff Kang Hoon-sik that the National Assembly must prepare a grand reform plan for election management.

Legislative Activities: Lawmakers' Expertise and Policy Initiatives

Beyond the election fallout, legislative discussions on various pressing issues are ongoing in the National Assembly, drawing attention to the expertise and policy initiatives of individual lawmakers. Preparations for legislative activities by newly elected members of the 22nd National Assembly, as well as concrete policy efforts by incumbent lawmakers, are taking shape.

Rep. Park Soon-cheol of the Jo Guk Innovation Party has announced plans to introduce legislation, leveraging his experience in formulating anti-corruption and prosecutorial reform policies during his tenure as a prosecutor. Serving on the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee, he has expressed support for prosecutorial reform bills and currently serves as the Jo Guk Innovation Party's floor leader. Similarly, Rep. Choi Seung-jun plans to utilize his administrative and legal practice experience gained as a legislative research officer at the National Assembly. He has voiced support for separating prosecutorial investigation and indictment powers and advancing prosecutorial reform legislation, and may participate in committees such as the Health and Welfare Committee or the Special Committee on Ethics. Rep. Park Kyung-ho, drawing on his past collaboration with judicial reform civic groups before his election, has joined the Jo Guk Innovation Party's floor leader team. Rep. Noh Ik-sang, as a proportional representative, has participated in policy forums and party meetings, engaging in discussions regarding parliamentary operations and standing committee assignments. Furthermore, Rep. Choi Chul-gyu, with an academic background featuring numerous law-related publications during his professorship, is expected to show interest in proposing legislation to support small business owners and self-employed individuals following the opening of the 22nd National Assembly. Rep. Moon Sung-mook is anticipated to serve on standing committees related to national security and diplomacy, such as the National Defense Committee.

Additionally, Rep. Yang Hyang-ja of the Democratic Party contributed to policy reviews and legislative activities in the ICT and science technology sectors as a member of the Science, ICT, Broadcasting, and Future Planning Committee during the 21st National Assembly. In 2020, she spearheaded the revision of the 'Basic Act on National Informationization,' strengthening the Minister of Science and ICT's authority in deliberating and resolving information and communication policies, and participated in discussions on semiconductor-related legislation as a member of the Special Committee on National Semiconductor Competitiveness Enhancement. She also co-sponsored the 'Student Debt Relief Act,' proposing measures to lower federal student loan interest rates and alleviate repayment burdens. In his first-anniversary press conference, President Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party stated regarding the granting of supplementary investigative powers to prosecutors, "We intend to leave the outcome to the National Assembly," suggesting the possibility of the matter being handled by parliament. This statement increases the likelihood that amendments to the Criminal Procedure Act will be processed in the latter half of the parliamentary session. U.S. Representative Omar, a member of the Democratic Party, has shown consistent interest in civil rights and election-related legislation, co-sponsoring the 'Protecting Our Democracy Act' in 2023 to strengthen election integrity and expand voter access.

National Assembly Organization Negotiations and Future Legislative Tasks

Alongside the June 3 local election fallout, negotiations for the organization of the National Assembly's second half are a major focus for political circles. The Democratic Party of Korea has reiterated its stance that it cannot yield the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee and is urging the completion of the Assembly's organization by the 18th. Floor Leader Han Byung-do has expressed his determination to break from the past convention of over two months for Assembly organization, vowing to commence negotiations immediately after the election of the People Power Party's new floor leader to ensure a swift conclusion. This decision stems from the judgment that, given the severe economic conditions—including economic uncertainty due to the Middle East conflict, supply chain instability, high inflation, and high exchange rates—the National Assembly cannot afford to waste time on unproductive political disputes. Therefore, once negotiations for the second half's Assembly organization are successfully concluded, standing committee activities are expected to intensify for the processing of livelihood-related legislation.

These legislative trends are anticipated to have a significant impact on the political and economic spheres. In particular, establishing legal and institutional mechanisms to restore the credibility of the election management system is crucial for strengthening citizens' political participation and the foundation of democracy. Furthermore, lawmakers' policy proposals and legislative initiatives across various fields such as ICT, semiconductors, prosecutorial reform, and support for small business owners hold the potential to drive changes in those industries and society as a whole. The National Assembly faces complex challenges from both the election incident and economic difficulties, with the task of restoring public trust and contributing to livelihood stability through rational negotiation and swift legislative action.