[Anchor]
During today's (June 23) National Assembly parliamentary investigation, there was a barrage of criticism regarding the National Election Commission's (NEC) complacent response, along with demands for fundamental reform of the collapsed election management system. In response to suggestions that external monitoring and checks must be strengthened, the NEC stated that a "one-point constitutional amendment is necessary."
Reporter Son Hyeong-an has the story.
[Reporter]
Lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties criticized the situation as a systemic collapse, pointing out that although there was an internal report as early as 11:30 a.m. on the day of the June 3 local election predicting a shortage of ballots, the report only reached the then-chair of the National Election Commission after media inquiries had already begun.
[Yoon Kun-young / Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker: The election situation room was doing nothing and just sitting on its hands during this period. The situation management system itself has collapsed.]
[Heo Cheol-hoon / Former Secretary-General of the National Election Commission: I apologize.]
Criticism also followed regarding the fact that the NEC has awarded 240 billion won worth of election-related contracts through private bidding over the past five years.
[Joo Jin-woo / People Power Party lawmaker: You are not even aware that the ratio of private contracts reaches 90 percent. Mr. Chair, please explain.]
[Roh Tae-ak / Former Chairperson of the National Election Commission: I am truly sorry for failing to oversee such details more closely.]
There were also questions regarding whether a re-election is possible in relation to election petitions filed against the NEC.
[Lee Jun-seok / New Reform Party lawmaker: The issue this time was the main voting day, wasn't it? The shortage of ballots. Are you going to redo only the early voting, or only the main voting?]
[Kang Dong-wan / Acting Secretary-General of the National Election Commission: That part will likely have to follow a court decision.]
Regarding the point that while the NEC is an independent constitutional body, it now requires external monitoring and checks, the commission responded by suggesting the need for a constitutional amendment.
[Jung Choon-saeng / Rebuilding Korea Party lawmaker: It has reached a point where you cannot avoid an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection. The NEC brought this upon itself.]
[Wi Chul-hwan / Acting Chairperson of the National Election Commission: It appears that we may need to at least carry out a one-point constitutional amendment.]
Yoon Sang-hyun, the People Power Party lawmaker who chairs the special parliamentary investigation committee, suggested creating a "neutral standing audit committee within the NEC and a system for reporting to the National Assembly," noting that "pursuing a constitutional amendment could lead to a black hole."
(Video reporting: Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan | Video editing: Wi Won-yang)
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