Election Commission inquiry committee clashes again over 'recount' schedule

A dispute erupted between South Korea's major political parties on August 10 regarding the schedule for a public recount of ballots from the June 3 local elections. The Democratic Party and the Jo Guk Innovation Party insisted on proceeding with the recount on August 18, adhering to a tentative agreement made last month. However, the ruling People Power Party argued that the recount should only take place after a special prosecutor has been appointed to investigate the election commission.

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The reason we extended the parliamentary inquiry for a month was to conduct a recount. We must verify what needs to be verified, reveal what needs to be revealed, and correct what is wrong. I don't know why this is being used for political purposes.

The opposition parties, including Democratic Party floor leader Yoon Kun-young and Jo Guk Innovation Party lawmaker Chung Chun-saeng, urged a vote on the recount issue during the third hearing of the parliamentary inquiry committee. Yoon stated, "The reason we extended the parliamentary inquiry for a month was to conduct a recount." He questioned why the issue was being politicized, while Chung called the People Power Party's stance "irresponsible."

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The People Power Party does not seem to have any intention of recounting the votes. Isn't this too irresponsible?

The tentative agreement reached on July 30 included extending the parliamentary inquiry committee's term by 30 days and conducting a recount of ballots stored at the Olympic Park handball gymnasium on August 18. The People Power Party, however, maintained that the recount must be linked to the special prosecutor's investigation. They argued that conducting the recount beforehand could contaminate potential evidence.

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The recount should be coordinated with the special prosecutor. The ballot boxes could become objects of investigation once the special prosecutor is launched. If we conduct a public verification first, the objects of investigation could be contaminated.

As the parties failed to reach a consensus, the committee chairman, Yoon Sang-hyun of the People Power Party, twice adjourned the session to allow floor leaders to negotiate. When negotiations failed, the People Power Party proceeded with an institutional report in the absence of the opposition. Lawmakers from the Democratic Party and the Jo Guk Innovation Party held a press conference expressing anger over the proceedings and demanding an apology from the chairman and the ruling party.

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It was based on the premise of the special prosecutor. If the special prosecutor is not launched, we cannot do it.