Justice Minister: Hold officials accountable for ballot shortage, reject fraud theories

Justice Minister Han Jeong-ae has declared that the recent ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections warrants "heavy accountability" for those responsible and necessitates "thorough institutional improvements." He described the incident as a "grave problem" that "seriously infringed upon the fundamental right to vote," a cornerstone of democracy and an inalienable right of citizens.

In a Facebook post, Han stated that there is broad consensus among the government and both ruling and opposition parties that the situation cannot be ignored. He expressed anticipation for "swift, powerful, and effective measures" to address the issue, suggesting that these could include the appointment of a special prosecutor or a parliamentary inquiry.

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This matter deserves the stern criticism of the people, and in accordance with the facts that are revealed in the future, thorough institutional improvements and heavy accountability for the relevant responsible parties must absolutely follow.

However, Han drew a firm line against linking the ballot shortage to unfounded conspiracy theories of election fraud. He criticized "certain extremist groups" for deliberately mixing their "delusions and conspiracy theories," which have been repeatedly disproven, with the legitimate demands of citizens seeking to restore their voting rights.

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This incident is a grave problem that has seriously infringed upon the fundamental right to vote, which is the basis of democracy and an inviolable right of the people.

"This is not an attempt to solve the problem, but a scheme to incite division within the community for political self-interest," Han warned. He stressed that any effort to substitute the anger of citizens whose voting rights were violated with "delusions and hatred" would not be tolerated. He also stated that attempts to transform peaceful, non-violent protests into violent ones would be met with a firm response.

The minister's remarks underscore the government's acknowledgment of the severity of the election management failure while simultaneously attempting to curb the spread of unsubstantiated claims that could further polarize the public and undermine trust in the electoral process.

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This is not an attempt to solve the problem, but a scheme to incite division within the community for political self-interest.