Rival Parties Locked in Dispute Over Election Investigation Demands
Following irregularities reported during the June 3rd local elections, the People Power Party (PPP) has urgently called for an immediate special investigation into the National Election Commission (NEC). In response, the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has criticized the PPP’s proposal, labeling it as a conspiracy-laden tactic and asserting that a parliamentary inquiry should take precedence.
People Power Party Demands Special Investigation
At a party leadership meeting held at the National Assembly, PPP leader Jang Dong-hyuk asserted that the NEC must be thoroughly investigated. He highlighted the discovery that ballot boxes at a polling station in Jamsil 2-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, were found to have been destroyed. Jang stated, “The NEC has admitted to possessing crucial evidence that could reveal the truth behind the missing ballots.” He further warned that evidence at polling stations nationwide is disappearing while a joint investigation by prosecutorial and investigative bodies is underway. “The National Assembly must immediately conduct both a special investigation and a parliamentary inquiry,” Jang urged, emphasizing the urgency due to the ongoing disappearance of evidence.
Jang also reiterated the party’s call for a nationwide re-election, stating, “If such a serious problem is discovered, the most effective solution would be to quickly declare the election invalid and hold a nationwide re-election.”
Democratic Party Advocates for Parliamentary Inquiry
Conversely, DPK floor leader Jung Jin-sik argued that the current dispute surrounding the NEC is not merely about missing ballots but a “disregard for the people’s right to participate in elections.” Jung proposed that a parliamentary inquiry, led by the PPP with bipartisan membership, is necessary for a thorough investigation.
He criticized the government and the ruling party, stating, “The joint investigation by the prosecution and police has already lost all credibility during the investigation into the Tongil Church gate, which was a probe into the Busan mayoral candidate.” Jung urged the government and the ruling party to abandon the idea of a joint investigation and accept a special investigation.
DPK floor leader Han Byung-do called for an end to the PPP’s attempts to “strategically exploit national issues.” He urged the party to cease “unfounded claims of election fraud and the dismissal of advance voting” and instead focus on “resolving the fundamental issues of clarifying the cause and reforming the NEC.”
Han stated, “The DPK will work to uncover the truth and hold the NEC strictly accountable.” He proposed setting a date for the parliamentary inquiry in the next plenary session and immediately establishing a special committee for it. He also mentioned the formation of a task force to “protect the people’s right to vote and reform the election system.”
DPK deputy floor leader Cheon Jun-ho criticized the PPP’s proposed special investigation bill, calling it “conspiratorial.” He pointed out that the bill includes investigations into instances where vote counts matched across different polling stations, which he described as an “unreasonable inclusion.” Cheon asserted, “Even with a special investigation, a flawed investigation riddled with conspiracy theories cannot resolve the situation.” The DPK, he added, will “resolutely respond to attempts to distort the essence of the issue,” indicating their reluctance to pass the special investigation bill as proposed.
Concerns Over Protest Violence
The DPK also addressed instances of illegal activity during recent rallies. Han stated, “Some protest groups are causing significant inconvenience to the police and citizens. While freedom of expression must be respected, protests involving violence and terror cannot be justified.” He specifically condemned the “unprovoked harassment, assault, and verbal abuse directed at police officers,” as well as “unprecedented incidents such as searching the belongings of handball players and assaulting journalists covering the event.” Han concluded, “Violence that tramples on the rights of others can never be justified.”
