Parties Agree on Election Investigation but Clash Over Scope and Committee Makeup

South Korean political parties have reached a consensus on launching a parliamentary inquiry into the recent ballot shortage that marred the June 3 local elections. However, significant disagreements remain regarding the investigation's scope and the formation of the special committee tasked with examining the incident.

Han Byung-do, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, declared the shortage a "tragedy that has critically undermined South Korean democracy and the right to vote." He urged for an immediate parliamentary session this week to report and approve the investigation plan, aiming to establish the special committee swiftly. Jang Dong-hyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, also expressed support for accelerating the investigation.

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This incident is a tragedy that has critically undermined South Korean democracy and the right to vote.

Key points of contention include the scope of the inquiry. While both parties agree on investigating the circumstances and status of the ballot shortage, the People Power Party insists on including the "suppression of citizens by police riot units" during protests related to the shortage. Furthermore, the parties differ on the committee's composition. The Democratic Party proposes a ratio based on parliamentary seats (10 members for DP, 6 for PPP, 2 for minor parties), while the People Power Party advocates for an equal 9-to-9 split and wants its party member to chair the committee, citing the previous committee chair's affiliation with the Democratic Party.

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Are you trying to solve the fundamental problem, or are you trying to use this incident for your own political gain?

The Democratic Party's leadership strongly criticized a proposal by People Power Party lawmaker Kim Jae-seop to include President Lee Jae-myung in the investigation. Han Byung-do questioned whether the intention was to resolve the core issue or exploit the situation for political gain, labeling the proposal "irresponsible and inflammatory politics."

Meanwhile, the National Election Commission's "Fact-Finding Committee on the Ballot Shortage" announced it would begin a ten-day investigation on June 10, covering the entire process of ballot printing, distribution, and management during the elections. The committee aims to uncover the full details of the ballot shortage incident.

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Stop irresponsible and inflammatory politics.