[Anchor]
The National Election Commission has proposed a 1.4 billion won plan to reinforce fences and guard posts surrounding its building, as well as purchase anti-air defense equipment. While the stated aim is to strengthen security to match the highest security rating for national facilities, critics point out that this amounts to an out-of-the-blue fortifying of the building.
Reporter Park Chan-beom has the details.
[Reporter]
According to the 2027 Budget Request Project Explanatory Material submitted by the National Election Commission to the National Assembly, the total scale of the commission's budget bill for next year is set at 478.3 billion won.
Among that, however, 1.463 billion won is allocated for building protection.
Looking at the specific breakdown, about 320 million won is designated for installing 2.7-meter-high fences around the building to prevent scaling and setting up guard posts in various locations. Another 460 million won is for replacing the main gate and installing obstacles to prevent vehicles from forcibly breaking through.
Protective equipment budgets are also included, such as 80 million won for an anti-drone gun intended to force drones down, 3.3 million won for gas sprayers, and 4.4 million won for expandable batons.
The Election Commission also requested 29 million won to purchase gun storage lockers and communication equipment in accordance with a plan to newly organize a workplace reserve force.
As public criticism mounts over internal issues within the Election Commission, such as the ballot paper shortage and voter turnout manipulation incidents, the revelation of a "building fortification budget" aimed at blocking external intrusions has drawn criticism that it is "out of touch."
[Kim Eun-hye / People Power Party Representative: They are being told to reform to the level of disbandment, yet they talk about 'fortification'? Instead of self-reflection, are they only looking out for their own survival? This will not simply pass by during the National Assembly's budget deliberation.]
An official from the National Election Commission told SBS, "This is a measure to strengthen protection following the designation of the building as a Grade A facility—the highest security rating among national key facilities—starting last December," adding, "This is not an excessive budget request."
(Photo courtesy of: Kim Nam-sung | Video Editing: Lee Seung-jin | Design: Choi Jin-hoe, Lee So-jung)
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