[Anchor]
The National Assembly's parliamentary investigation special committee, formed to uncover the truth behind the ballot paper shortage incident, has tentatively agreed to conduct a recount of the 2.47 million ballot papers stored at Seoul Olympic Park on August 18 next month. The special counsel bill regarding the National Election Commission has also passed the National Assembly through a bipartisan agreement.
Reporter Go Jeong-hyeon has the details.
[Reporter]
The National Assembly voted today, July 30, through a bipartisan agreement, to extend the activities of the special committee investigating the ballot paper shortage by an additional 30 days.
The special committee, extended until the end of August, agreed to hold its third hearing on August 10, followed by a recount on August 18 of the 2.47 million ballot papers from Songpa-gu, Seoul, which are stored at the Handball Gymnasium in Seoul Olympic Park.
However, the schedule for the recount is currently a tentative agreement solely between the ruling and opposition floor leaders, meaning it remains subject to change.
[Yoon Kun-young / Democratic Party lawmaker: Because we extended the parliamentary investigation special committee by a month for the recount, I believe the recount must proceed sometime in August without fail.]
[Joo Jin-woo / People Power Party lawmaker: I am not entirely sure if it will not interfere with the special counsel's investigation or schedule, but colliding with that part or fixing the date like that...]br />
The special counsel bill concerning the ballot paper shortage also passed the National Assembly by a bipartisan agreement.
A public recommendation committee, composed of an equal number of members recommended by the ruling and opposition parties, will receive three special counsel candidates each from the Korean Bar Association and the Association of Law Schools, and then recommend two of them to the President.
The special counsel team, consisting of approximately 165 members and operating for a maximum of 170 days, will investigate 12 allegations, including not only the ballot paper shortage incident but also overseas junket trips by current and former election commission members and staff, preferential promotions for their children, manipulation of election statistics, and poor management of the election administration system.
(Photo courtesy of Oh Young-chun, Lee Seung-hwan | Video Editing by Oh Young-taek | Graphics by Han Hung-soo, Lee Jun-ho)
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