President Lee proposes 'one-point constitutional amendment' for election commission reform

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has called for a "one-point constitutional amendment" to reform the National Election Commission (NEC), prompted by a recent crisis involving a shortage of ballots. Lee expressed frustration with the NEC's autonomy, stating that the commission operates without external oversight and possesses excessive freedom.

During a press briefing following his European tour and attendance at the G7 summit, Lee described the NEC situation as "absurd." He highlighted the lack of control or checks on the commission, noting that even the NEC chairman is selected internally. Lee questioned the expectation of fairness, especially after recent events, and pointed to issues such as staff overseas business trips, which have drawn media attention. He suggested that the commission has been enjoying a level of freedom bordering on "licentiousness" without constitutional checks.

“

If the ruling and opposition parties agree, wouldn't it be a 'one-point constitutional amendment' to oversee the NEC? ... Even if necessary, the president can initiate it.

Lee indicated that if a consensus is reached between the ruling and opposition parties, a "one-point constitutional amendment" could be pursued to enhance the NEC's accountability. He further stated that the president could even initiate such an amendment if deemed necessary, emphasizing that the government would decide its stance after observing discussions in the political sphere.

The president's remarks come amid revelations about NEC employees taking extravagant overseas trips, including former NEC Chairman Noh Tae-hak, who reportedly took his spouse on three separate international trips during his tenure. Lee's comments suggest a growing demand for greater transparency and accountability within the institution responsible for overseeing national elections.

“

The NEC issue is truly absurd. We have no control or oversight authority, not even a formal appointment power for the NEC chairman. They select their own leaders amongst themselves. Didn't we expect the fairest Supreme Court justice to handle it well? But absurd things happened. It's difficult to talk about recent reports, but preparing insufficient ballots, like during overseas trips, is unimaginable. It seems the election system, which is the foundation of the country and defined by the constitution as a neutral body, has enjoyed a level of freedom close to licentiousness without any control.