Damaged Sovereign Sensitivity: Structural Reform, Not Conspiracy Theories, Needed for Election Commission

The public's outrage over the Election Commission's failure to provide sufficient ballots for the June 3 local elections is entirely understandable. However, directing this anger towards calls for the commission's dissolution or a change in its constitutional status is not the right approach. Instead, this energy should be channeled into a productive direction: remodeling the commission into a first-class election management organization.

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The public's anger towards the Election Commission is entirely justified. However, demanding its dissolution or a change in its constitutional status is not the right approach.

When citizens stand in line at polling stations, they assert their status as the sovereign power of the nation. The polling station is a sanctuary, inviolable by any authority other than the Election Commission. Voters enter the booth, cast their ballots, and deposit them into the ballot box. The ballot paper in hand is not merely a piece of paper; it is a credential that signifies the voter's right to elect representatives. The absence of this ballot is a profound insult to that sovereignty.

This situation transcends partisan politics or generational divides. It demands a collective display of "sovereign sensitivity" from the entire community. Voting is the most convenient means of peacefully expressing public will and the highest form of realizing national sovereignty. The current, seemingly normal, voting and vote-counting processes are not a given; they are the result of countless sacrifices by previous generations. The nationwide anger against the fraudulent March 15 election in 1960 led to the April 19 Democratic Revolution. Under Park Chung-hee's Yushin dictatorship, the public's vote for the opposition party in the 1979 general election bolstered the anti-Yushin movement. The February 12, 1985, general election saw the public rally behind democratic forces, paving the way for the June Democratic Uprising and the direct presidential election system in 1987.

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The absence of this ballot is a profound insult to that sovereignty.

Even the presidential impeachment proceedings in the 2000s were rooted in the public's will, as expressed in general elections. The impeachment of Park Geun-hye followed the government's disregard for the popular mandate shown in the 2016 general election. Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment was a judgment against his alleged unconstitutional actions, including contemplating a state of emergency in December, which ignored the public sentiment from the 2024 general election. Conversely, the public delivered a stern verdict against hasty impeachment forces in the 2004 general election. Elections serve as crucial signposts, clarifying the direction of public opinion and guiding political groups.

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This situation demands a collective display of 'sovereign sensitivity' from the entire community.

Given that democracy is realized through fair elections, the neutrality and accuracy of voting and vote counting are paramount. Any dispute in the election process is unacceptable to the public, who will not tolerate even the slightest error in voting or counting. The Election Commission, as an independent constitutional body, holds a mandate for neutrality and fairness. However, this mandate comes with absolute responsibility. The commission's incompetence and irresponsibility in the recent ballot shortage incident have reached a dangerous level. This issue, directly related to citizens' right to vote and national sovereignty, is far more serious than mere budget overruns. Neither preventive checks nor emergency response systems functioned adequately. This critical failure raises doubts about the commission's continued existence as an independent constitutional body. For years, the Election Commission has shown systemic problems, including mismanagement of on-site voting and counting, and serious corruption and moral hazard in personnel appointments. These are not isolated incidents of individual incompetence but ingrained issues within the organization. Despite repeated apologies, the commission has made little substantive effort toward qualitative improvement. A contributing factor is the non-standing nature of the commission's chairman and members. The long-standing practice of a sitting Supreme Court justice serving as ex officio chairman has left the organization without a permanent leader responsible for its day-to-day operations. Furthermore, a Constitutional Court ruling that prohibits the Board of Audit and Inspection from auditing constitutional bodies has created a blind spot, limiting external oversight. Independent constitutional bodies should enhance their internal capabilities and integrity, institutionalize thorough accountability, and establish regular audits and inspections to meet public expectations and trust. The commission's perceived sacrosanct status and privilege have led to a decline in internal tension and a sense of responsibility, resulting in absurd situations like frontline staff taking vacations during a national election.

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The Election Commission's incompetence and irresponsibility in the recent ballot shortage incident have reached a dangerous level.