Justice Minister Sung Shinho: "NEC's Overall Incompetence... Must Accept Reform at the Level of Dismantlement"

"Ballot Paper Shortage, Infringement on the People's Suffrage"

"Truth Must Be Uncovered and Accountability Enforced"

Justice Minister Sung Shinho strongly criticized the National Election Commission (NEC) regarding the ballot paper shortage incident during the June 3 local elections, stating that the NEC "must accept a fundamental reform at the level of dismantlement."

Jeong Seongho, Minister of Justice, appears as a witness at the 11th plenary hearing of the National Assembly’s Special Committee on the Investigation of Allegations of Fabricated Prosecutions by the Yoon Seokyeol Administration’s Political Prosecutors on April 28. Photo by Kim Hyunmin, 2026.4.28

On June 10, through a post on Facebook, Minister Shinho wrote, "The NEC must humbly accept the stern rebuke from the sovereign people," making his position clear.

He emphasized, "The shortage of ballot papers is a grave issue that cannot be overlooked," adding, "The suffrage that the people have hard-won was infringed upon due to the overall incompetence and inadequacy of the NEC, which is a constitutional institution." He further stressed, "The truth must be fully uncovered and responsibility must be strictly enforced," and added, "The status of being an independent constitutional institution must not serve as a shield for evading accountability."

Regarding the ongoing protest actions in places such as Olympic Park in Songpa District, he said, "We must respond to the faith and demands for democracy of the many citizens and young people in their 20s and 30s who have gathered in the square, expressing righteous anger over the infringement of their suffrage," urging the National Assembly to conduct a swift parliamentary investigation.

Minister Shinho also commented on the joint investigation headquarters involving both the prosecution and the police. He stated, "To promptly uncover the truth and ensure a rigorous investigation, we have launched a joint investigation headquarters with the participation of both the prosecution and the police," adding, "We will mobilize all available resources to thoroughly determine the circumstances and responsibility for this incident in which the people’s suffrage was violated."

The prosecution and police finalized the formation of the joint investigation headquarters with 27 members the previous day and have begun preparations for a full-scale investigation. The headquarters is headed by Kim Taehun, the third deputy chief prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

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