"Blind Spot for Oversight" and "Preferential Contracting"... Lawmakers Lash Out at NEC

[Anchor]

The first hearing of the National Assembly's special committee investigating the shortage of ballot papers has been held. Lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties criticized the National Election Commission (NEC), stating that it has remained in a blind spot for oversight and that issues of preferential contracting have been exposed.

Reporter Kim Bo-mi has the story.

[Reporter]

The National Election Commission introduced an open auditor system after the scandal involving preferential hiring of relatives of former and current executives in 2023.

At the National Assembly hearing on the ballot paper shortage held today (July 14), it was pointed out that the rate of disciplinary reductions has actually increased since the audit system was reformed.

[Yoon Kun-young / Democratic Party of Korea]: "Is this not why people point out that the NEC is a blind spot for monitoring and oversight, effectively acting as an extraterritorial zone?"

Criticism also poured out over allegations of a "Seon-pia" (a portmanteau of NEC and mafia) cartel, with claims that the NEC signed 103 contracts worth a total of 17.5 billion won with three companies linked to former employees and their families.

[Joo Jin-woo / People Power Party]: "Is it appropriate to award private contracts like this to an organization that has only been in existence for one year immediately after retirement?"

[Noh Tae-ak / Former Chairperson of the National Election Commission]: "I believe it is inappropriate."

Regarding an SBS report that the central NEC sent reference materials containing a "dismissal opinion" to the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission ahead of an election petition review—raising concerns over the infringement of independence—Acting Chairperson Wi Chul-hwan responded as follows:

[Choi Bo-yoon / People Power Party]: "The central NEC secretariat sent a legal review opinion even before the review began. Is this not election manipulation?"

[Wi Chul-hwan / Acting Chairperson of the National Election Commission]: "I believe it must be done independently. I apologize."

The NEC stated that it is "capable of conducting a public recount" if the National Assembly passes a resolution regarding the controversy over so-called "twin votes," where identical vote counts appeared in some regions. Regarding the point that voters whose suffrage was infringed upon should be compensated, the commission stated that it would "review the matter."

Regarding the issue of recounting the 2.47 million ballots stored at the Seoul Olympic Park, the Democratic Party of Korea called for an immediate recount, while the People Power Party maintained that a special counsel investigation should take priority.

Reported by Lee Seung-hwan and Shin Dong-hwan | Video by Won Hyung-hee | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.