NEC Reform: People Power Party Should Offer Its Own Proposals, Not Just Oppose Amendment

The Democratic Party of Korea is spearheading efforts to reform the National Election Commission (NEC), proposing constitutional amendments to dissolve the institution. This move follows a significant ballot shortage incident during the recent local elections, which exposed what the party calls "total mismanagement" by the NEC.

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We will dissolve the NEC through constitutional amendment and change its name and structure so that it can become an institution that broadly guarantees citizens' right to participate in elections.

Democratic Party lawmaker Song Ki-heon, head of the task force on NEC reform, stated that the party aims to "dissolve the NEC through constitutional amendment" and change its name and structure to ensure it functions as an institution that broadly guarantees citizens' right to participate in elections. The party also plans to include provisions in the constitutional amendment that would grant the Board of Audit and Inspection the authority to audit the NEC, addressing a previous Constitutional Court ruling that deemed such audits unconstitutional.

While constitutional amendments take time, the Democratic Party intends to pursue immediate legal reforms. These include making the NEC chairperson a full-time position, increasing the number of standing committee members from one to three, implementing a confirmation hearing for the Secretary-General, and establishing an independent internal audit committee.

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The proposal for constitutional amendment is a typical tactic to distract from the government's crisis.

The main opposition People Power Party has expressed opposition to constitutional amendments, labeling the Democratic Party's proposal a "typical tactic to distract from the government's crisis." They argue that a special prosecutor investigation is more pressing than constitutional reform. However, the People Power Party had previously advocated for the NEC's dissolution following the ballot shortage. The Democratic Party questions whether the opposition's current stance is merely "opposition for opposition's sake" to avoid losing control of the reform agenda. They urge the People Power Party to present concrete reform proposals, emphasizing the urgency of addressing the NEC's systemic issues before the 2028 general elections.

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If you oppose constitutional amendment, you must present your own reform plan that the public can accept.