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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Democratic Party to Seek Special Prosecutor for Election Commission, Proposes Legislative Reforms

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Han Byung-do, interim leader of the Democratic Party, announced plans to submit a special prosecutor bill to investigate the National Election Commission.
  • The proposed investigation would examine alleged irregularities in ballot printing and potential corruption within the commission.
  • Han also proposed shortening the fast-track legislative process from 330 days to 75 days and strengthening filibuster rules.

Han Byung-do, interim leader and floor leader of South Korea's Democratic Party, announced on Friday that the party will submit a special prosecutor bill this week. The bill aims to investigate the National Election Commission (NEC) following recent issues with ballot shortages.

The Democratic Party will submit the NEC special prosecutor bill this week. The investigation will cover the circumstances of reduced ballot printing, the omission and delay of reports to election leadership, and potential corruption and incompetence within the NEC.

— Han Byung-doAnnouncing the party's intention to pursue a special prosecutor investigation into the National Election Commission.

"The Democratic Party will submit the NEC special prosecutor bill this week," Han stated on Facebook. "The investigation will cover the circumstances of reduced ballot printing, the omission and delay of reports to election leadership, and potential corruption and incompetence within the NEC."

Responding to the People Power Party's demand to exclude the Democratic Party from the special prosecutor nomination process, Han dismissed the suggestion as "political agitation with no value" and "absurd." He proposed that a third party, such as the Korean Bar Association, should nominate candidates, considering the NEC's unique need for independence and neutrality. A party official elaborated that this approach allows for nominations from political parties and a third party, with the possibility of a third-party nomination being a viable option.

It is political agitation with no value and absurd.

— Han Byung-doDismissing the opposition's demand to exclude the Democratic Party from the special prosecutor nomination process.

In separate remarks at a high-ranking party-government consultation meeting, Han also called for institutional improvements to create a more productive National Assembly. He indicated that the party is considering legislation to shorten the fast-track legislative process, currently taking 330 days, to 75 days. Additionally, the party plans to strengthen the conditions for filibusters, which allow for unlimited debate.

Considering the special nature of the NEC's independence and neutrality, nomination by a third party like the Korean Bar Association would be more realistic and fair.

— Han Byung-doProposing a method for nominating candidates for the special prosecutor.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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