People Power Party to Push for “Election Reform 8+α Laws”…Joint Meeting on Election Commission Reform and Special Investigation Committee

Abolition of Early Voting and Establishment of Independent Oversight Body Discussed

Jang Dong-hyuk: "Special Prosecution for Election Commission Led by Opposition Is Essential"

The People Power Party is set to push forward with the so-called "Election Reform 8+α Bills" aimed at overhauling the National Election Commission and the overall election system. Their goal is to prevent any recurrence of infringements on citizens’ suffrage rights by reforming the entire election management framework, including the abolition of the early voting system and the establishment of an independent audit body for the Election Commission.

On July 21, the People Power Party held a joint meeting at the National Assembly of the "Special Investigation Committee for the 9th National Simultaneous Local Election Ballot Paper Shortage Incident and Fact-Finding on Suffrage Rights Infringement and Election Management Reform" along with the "June 3 National Suffrage Rights Infringement Fact-Finding and Election Management Reform Special Committee," where party-level measures for election system reform were discussed.

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, is speaking at the joint meeting of the '9th National Simultaneous Local Election Ballot Paper Shortage Incident and National Suffrage Rights Infringement Fact-Finding and Election Management Reform Special Committee' and the 'June 3 National Suffrage Rights Infringement Fact-Finding and Election Management Reform Special Committee' held at the National Assembly on July 21, 2026. Photo by Hyunmin Kim

Park Dae-chul, chair of the June 3 Special Committee, stated, "After a comprehensive review of reforms to the structure of the National Election Commission and the ballot counting system, consensus was reached that amendments to at least eight laws are needed. This is what we call the 'Election Reform 8+α Bills.'"

The laws being considered for revision include the National Election Commission Act, the Public Official Election Act, the National Assembly Act, the Personnel Hearing Act, the National Finance Act, the Public Officials Ethics Act, and the National Public Officials Act, among others.

The draft proposal drawn up by the special committee contains practical measures to strengthen oversight, such as abolishing the early voting system, establishing an independent audit body for the Election Commission, specifying legal protections for internal whistleblowers within the Commission, and restructuring the Commission’s permanent committee system.

Chairman Park said, "The details will be finalized after widely gathering suggestions from People Power Party lawmakers, experts, and the public," adding, "We will present innovative solutions that resonate with the people."

Yoon Sang-hyun, chair of the National Assembly’s special investigation committee, argued that, in addition to agency reports, field investigations, expert meetings, and hearings, a public recount and a special prosecutor investigation are also necessary to uncover the truth. He stated, "A special prosecutor and a public recount are not optional but must go hand-in-hand to restore the people’s suffrage rights. Both measures should be pursued concurrently to clarify the facts and hold those responsible to account."

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, emphasized the necessity of pushing through a special prosecutor for the Election Commission led by the opposition. He said, "We must ensure the implementation of a public special prosecutor led by the opposition, punish those responsible, and simultaneously reform the election system. There is no more time to waste. Now is the time for the National Assembly to answer to the public."

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