Ruling and Opposition Lawmakers Slam Election Commission as 'Lawless' at Parliamentary Audit
Lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties on Monday uniformly pressed the National Election Commission (NEC) over its handling of the ballot paper shortage during the June 3 local elections, at a National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee audit. Acting NEC Chair Wi Cheol-hwan, appearing at the audit, said he feels deeply responsible for the ballot shortage and flawed handling of matters that damaged public trust in election administration. "We are going through the heaviest ordeal since our founding," Wi said.
Democratic Party Rep. Yoon Geon-young urged the NEC to conduct a public recount of the ballots, saying, "It has been 124 days since Olympic Park was turned into a lawless zone, causing losses worth tens of billions of won. Shouldn't you be able to voice your opinion that a recount should be held?" Yoon also asked, "Are you just standing by while the site becomes a playground for far-right groups for 124 days?" Rep. Yang Bu-nam criticized the NEC for failing to reflect the ruling party's call that the number of printed ballots be set by a resolution of the central commission, saying, "The central commissioners have no will whatsoever to do their jobs properly." "It is pathetic to think why we even formed the special committee for the parliamentary investigation," Yang said.
People Power Party Rep. Park Sang-woong criticized the NEC, saying the massive confusion over the June 3 local elections has made South Korean democracy a laughingstock around the world. Park said the commission should not simply paper things over with words like "we are ashamed" and "we will reform ourselves thoroughly."
The NEC's document submissions also came under fire. People Power Party Rep. Kwon Young-jin, referring to the commission's failure to provide materials on the status of investigations into hiring corruption allegations, said, "Saying that amounts to dereliction of duty." Democratic Party Rep. Park Ju-min also urged the NEC to submit materials related to large political fund donations, saying, "It won't work to just ask us to trust you without even submitting the documents."
On the recount, Acting Secretary-General Kang Dong-hwan explained that the NEC had not directly requested a recount from the special prosecutor. Kang said the commission would work through consultations with the special prosecutor to ensure the ballots are verified as quickly as possible. Democratic Party Rep. Kim Young-bae introduced a resolution, in the name of all Democratic members of the Public Administration Committee, urging a public recount and verification of the ballots, and proposed that the People Power Party handle it jointly.
