People Power Party Holds First Party Meeting After Election...Proposes Urgent Parliamentary Probe into 'Election Commission Incident'

Focusing on the Ballot Paper Shortage Crisis...
Calls for Disclosure of Related Documents

Jang Donghyuk Absent Due to Health Concerns...
All-Out Offensive on Election Commission Responsibility

The People Power Party held its first general assembly of lawmakers since the June 3 local elections, strongly criticizing the ballot paper shortage that occurred in certain areas of Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, and proposed an urgent parliamentary investigation to the Democratic Party of Korea.

On June 4, the People Power Party convened an emergency general assembly at the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts meeting room in the National Assembly, calling for a full investigation into the Central Election Management Committee's alleged mismanagement of the election and for those responsible to be held accountable. Lawmakers in attendance held placards reading "Thorough investigation into ballot paper shortage" and "Severe punishment for Central Election Management Committee officials," and chanted slogans.

Song Eon-seok, Floor Leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at a party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 4th. Photo by Yonhap News

During his opening remarks, Floor Leader Song Eon-seok stated, "In a total of 17 polling stations, including the Jamsil area of Songpa-gu in Seoul, as well as Incheon and Hwaseong in Gyeonggi Province, a shortage of ballot papers prevented hundreds of voters from casting their ballots. This is an unprecedented incident that did not even occur during the Liberal Party administration of the 1950s."

He argued, "The ballot paper shortage that forced voters to wait for long periods or to forgo voting constitutes an infringement on the constitutional right to participate in politics. Furthermore, the extension of voting until 10 p.m., alongside the announcement of exit polls and partial ballot counting in some regions, is contrary to the intent of the Public Official Election Act."

He went on to say, "The Central Election Management Committee and the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission shirking responsibility and failing to decide whether to suspend the ballot count constitutes neglect of duty. The election commissions have committed what can be called the 'three major crimes': the ballot paper shortage, simultaneous voting and ballot counting, and neglect of duty by the Central Election Management Committee."

On this day, the People Power Party officially demanded: △an internal investigation by the election commission, △the resignations of Heo Cheol-ho, Secretary General of the Central Election Management Committee, and the chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission, △an urgent parliamentary investigation, △legislation to improve the election management system, and △the release of relevant materials. In addition, the party demanded that the election commission submit guidelines for ballot printing, details on budget execution, internal approval documents, and printing contracts.

Meanwhile, as this was the first general assembly of lawmakers since the June 3 local elections, attention was also focused on the future of the party leadership. After the meeting, Chief Spokesperson Park Chungkwon responded to questions about the leadership’s future, saying, "Nothing has been discussed yet. We will announce the schedule for parliamentary affairs and the leadership election plan after the election of the presiding officers at tomorrow’s plenary session."

Regarding the absence of party leader Jang Donghyuk from the assembly, he explained, "It is understood that he was unable to attend due to health reasons, as he stayed up all night responding to the situation, including visiting the election commission the previous day."

As for the election results, he commented, "We do not believe the People Power Party won the election." However, he added, "We believe the public has left at least a minimal mechanism to keep the arrogant government and ruling party in check."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.