Opposition Criticizes Acting Chairman Wi Cheolhwan at Election Committee Probe: "Inappropriate... Lax Management at Criminal Level"

Election Commission Special Committee Criticism Continues into the Afternoon
No Taeak Says, "Difficult to Maintain Non-Permanent System... Constitutional Revision Needed"

On June 23, the National Assembly's Special Investigation Committee (Special Committee) to examine the violation of citizens' suffrage caused by the ballot shortage incident began its activities. During the session, opposition lawmakers continued to criticize the appropriateness of Wi Cheolhwan's work as Acting Chairman of the National Election Commission. There were also voices pointing out issues such as former National Election Commissioner Roh Taeak's overseas trip with his spouse and the Commission's insufficient preparation for re-elections.

Wi Cheolhwan, Acting Chairman of the National Election Commission (left), and Roh Taeak, former National Election Commissioner, are speaking at the special committee plenary meeting for a national investigation into the ballot shortage incident and to protect citizens' voting rights and reform election management held at the National Assembly on the 23rd.

On June 23 at the National Assembly, the first plenary session of the Special Committee for a national investigation into the ballot shortage incident during the 9th Nationwide Local Elections, protection of citizens' voting rights, and election management reform was held. During the session, which resumed that afternoon, concerns were raised that Acting Chairman Wi Cheolhwan, who previously served as a standing commissioner, bears significant responsibility for the incident and therefore is unqualified to lead election commission reforms.

Seo Beomsoo, opposition secretary for the Special Committee and member of the People Power Party, said, "Shouldn't the standing commissioner bear overall responsibility for the Commission's work?" He added, "Out of the nine commissioners, there is only one standing commissioner." He further pointed out, "In my view, the person who bears the most responsibility is sitting in the acting chairman's seat, saying he will carry out a fact-finding investigation, determine accountability, and improve the system." Seo continued, "Will the public accept this?"

Shin Dongwook, another People Power Party lawmaker, criticized, "(Acting Chairman Wi) is already under investigation or will be investigated in the future. Why does he think he should be the one to solve this problem?" He also said, "If Acting Chairman Wi remains in his position, the crisis cannot be resolved." In response, Acting Chairman Wi replied, "Resigning would not be appropriate to the people." He added, "Even though my time in this position has been brief, I have never engaged in any actions that would undermine fairness or neutrality in elections," asserting that his leadership was not problematic.

Joo Jinwoo, a People Power Party lawmaker, focused on former Commissioner Roh Taeak's overseas trip with his spouse. Joo stated, "The Commission's lax management has reached a criminal level. The public is outraged that former Commissioner Roh went on an overseas trip accompanied by his spouse. Does the witness’s spouse possess any election-related expertise?" Former Commissioner Roh responded that it was customary for spouses to accompany such trips, saying, "No objections were raised. I did not have any major doubts about it," and added, "I am very sorry."

Lee Junseok, a member of the Reform New Party, remarked, "For the past seven years, the Commission has actively and logically countered allegations of fraudulent early voting. However, after seeing what happened this time, I am left wondering whether the Commission was even capable of properly conducting an election, let alone rigging one." He further criticized the Commission for not adequately preparing for the possibility of a re-election, stating, "If a re-election is decided, I have no choice but to doubt whether the Commission can carry it out."

Meanwhile, former Commissioner Roh pointed out that structural issues within the Commission were at the root of the current crisis. In response to a question from Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Haesik about the sustainability of the non-standing chairman system at the National Election Commission, Roh replied, "It will no longer be possible to maintain." In addition, as calls for constitutional amendments grow during the reform process, Special Committee member Yoon Sanghyun asked for Roh's view, to which he responded, "A constitutional amendment is necessary."

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