Han Dong-hoon: NEC must undergo external audits; proposes revision to Board of Audit and Inspection Act

Independent lawmaker Han Dong-hoon announced on Sunday his intention to propose legislation that would permit external audits of the National Election Commission (NEC). This move comes amid growing concerns about the commission's oversight and its role in ensuring fair elections.

Han expressed strong criticism, asserting that the NEC has evolved into an unchecked "sanctuary," thereby jeopardizing the fundamental principles of election management. "As it has been confirmed that the NEC has reached a point where even the basics of election management are threatened by becoming a sanctuary that is not monitored, this issue must be clearly corrected through new legislation," he emphasized.

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The NEC has become a sanctuary that is not monitored, and it has been confirmed that even the basics of election management are threatened.

The lawmaker pointed to past incidents, including the 2023 NEC illegal hiring scandal, which led to an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection. However, the NEC subsequently filed a constitutional complaint, and the Constitutional Court ruled in February 2025 that the audit infringed upon the NEC's authority. Han deemed this decision flawed, arguing that the NEC's independence was intended to guarantee fairness, not to shield incompetence or corruption.

To address this, Han plans to introduce an amendment to the Board of Audit and Inspection Act. This amendment would add a provision enabling the Board of Audit and Inspection to conduct audits of the NEC and its regional committees. He warned that if the NEC were to file another constitutional complaint against this legislative effort, it would face dissolution by the public.

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The NEC will be dissolved by the public if it files another constitutional complaint.