[Anchor]
The Democratic Party of Korea has decided to push for a special counsel investigation into the National Election Commission (NEC) as its official party platform. The People Power Party, which had originally called for a special counsel probe, is now demanding that the special counsel be a person recommended by the opposition party.
Reporter Park Jae-yeon has the story.
[Reporter]
The Democratic Party decided to pursue the introduction of a special counsel regarding the NEC situation during a general meeting of lawmakers held yesterday (June 29).
The party argues that, separate from the National Assembly's parliamentary investigation, a special counsel probe is necessary to uncover the truth behind issues such as the ballot paper shortage.
[Han Byung-do / Acting Leader and Floor Leader of the Democratic Party: Institutional reform alone does not absolve the responsibility for this incident. An independent special counsel investigation is necessary to uncover dereliction of duty, false reporting, and attempts to evade responsibility.]
The party's floor leadership has decided to discuss the specific details of the introduction, such as the scale of the special counsel and the authority to recommend candidates, at a later date.
The People Power Party welcomed the Democratic Party's acceptance of a special counsel probe but demanded that a person recommended by the opposition be appointed as the special counsel to ensure an investigation without sanctuaries.
[Chung Jeung-sik / Floor Leader of the People Power Party: We will not let our guard down until the end to ensure this is a proper special counsel investigation. We will do our utmost to ensure the appointment of a special counsel recommended by the opposition party.]
In response, the Democratic Party's floor leadership expressed that while it is a matter that can be discussed, it is difficult to accept.
The ruling and opposition parties also remain divided over constitutional amendments for NEC reform.
The Democratic Party's Task Force on Election System Reform announced that it would push for constitutional amendments to change the name of the NEC and allow the Board of Audit and Inspection to audit the commission. The party plans to discuss specific constitutional amendment proposals through expert forums next month.
However, People Power Party Representative Jang Dong-hyuk opposed the move at a party leadership meeting yesterday, questioning, "Isn't this constitutional amendment ultimately for the consecutive term of President Lee Jae-myung?"
Tomorrow, the National Assembly's Special Committee on Parliamentary Investigation will summon 70 witnesses, including former NEC Chairperson Noh Tae-ak, to receive a second institutional report.
(Video reporting: Oh Young-chun, Kim Yong-woo | Video editing: Won Hyung-hee)
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