President Lee calls for investigation into election commission over ballot shortage

President Lee Jae-myung has called for a comprehensive investigation into the National Election Commission (NEC) after a shortage of ballots disrupted the June 3 local elections. Lee stated that the NEC, as an independent constitutional body, is currently operating without adequate oversight, leading to "absurd situations" that the public cannot accept.

"The public's concern and interest in the situation at the National Election Commission are very high," Lee said during a joint State Council and Emergency Economic Inspection meeting on June 23. He noted that parliamentary oversight has been difficult, resulting in internal problems within the NEC. "The problems have piled up, leading to a situation where ballots are insufficient, causing obstacles to voting," he added, calling the situation "unacceptable" for an organization responsible for democracy.

Lee urged for swift measures to address the issues and expressed hope for cooperation with the National Assembly's efforts to find solutions. He also proposed expanding the joint investigation team, currently comprising 30 prosecutors and police officers, to thoroughly examine not only the ballot shortage but also related indirect corruption, budget waste, and hiring irregularities that have surfaced.

"We need to ensure that any aspects that are criminally problematic within the internal operations are accurately investigated and that responsibility is assigned," Lee stated. He expressed concern that the NEC might be operating too laxly without a sense of urgency. The president emphasized that addressing these internal operational issues is crucial for restoring public trust in the electoral process.