Representative Yoon Sang-hyun of the People Power Party, who chairs the National Assembly's special committee investigating the ballot shortage incident during the June 3 local elections, announced plans to push for a public recount of the 2.47 million ballots remaining at the counting station in the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in Songpa-gu, Seoul.
During a briefing on current issues at the National Assembly today, Representative Yoon stated, "The cost of renting (the gymnasium from the National Election Commission) is expected to reach approximately 200 million won by July 10." He added, "That is why we are asking the National Election Commission to publicly re-verify the 2.47 million ballots to demonstrate that there were no errors in the voting and counting process."
He further noted, "It is estimated that it will cost about 50 million won to mobilize personnel for the recount," adding, "I believe that conducting an accurate, one-time recount is better than continuing to incur rental costs, and it also provides a justification for moving those (sealed ballot boxes)."
Representative Yoon stated that he has requested the ruling and opposition party secretaries to discuss this matter within this week.
"I have asked the secretaries of both parties to consult on this, and I expect a conclusion to be reached soon," Yoon said. "During the National Election Commission's report to the committee last week, Acting Secretary-General Kang Dong-wan also expressed his agreement, saying, 'That is fine, we will do it.'"
He also announced that the on-site investigation of the National Election Commission and the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission, scheduled for July 7, will focus on the decision-making process regarding the reduction of ballot printing ratios and the command and reporting structure on the day of the main vote.
"There was a plenary meeting of the National Election Commission led by then-Chairman Noh Tae-ak in November of last year. Only two people remember the contents specified in the 40-page report," Yoon said. "We will examine issues such as why matters regarding ballots were handled through delegated authority regulations rather than being established as official National Election Commission rules."
(Photo: Yonhap News)