Acting Chairperson Wi Cheol-hwan and members of the National Election Commission (NEC) are responding to lawmakers' questions during the 3rd plenary session of the 'Special Committee on the National Investigation into the Truth of Infringement of People's Suffrage, such as the Shortage of Ballot Papers in the 9th Nationwide Simultaneous Local Elections, and Election Management Reform' held at the National Assembly on the 1st. [Photo = Yonhap News] 

The National Election Commission (NEC) expressed its support on the 1st for a plan to conduct a public verification of the ballot boxes and ballots stored at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, in the presence of ruling and opposition parties and civic groups.

Kang Dong-wan, Acting Secretary-General of the NEC, stated this while attending the plenary session of the National Assembly's Special Committee on National Investigation that day.

In response to Rep. Kim Yong-man of the Democratic Party of Korea, who pointed out that the ballot boxes and ballots at the Jamsil counting station have been left unattended for 26 days, Acting Secretary-General Kang explained, "We have reached the conclusion that it is not easy to resolve this on our own," adding, "It would be most reasonable for the Special Committee to pass a resolution to inspect the counting station in conjunction with the election appeal process."

He further explained, "It has been confirmed that there are approximately 2.47 million ballots inside the Songpa-gu counting station," and added, "If our NEC staff, rather than external personnel, handle the counting, we estimate the cost will be around 50 million won."

When Special Committee Chairperson Yoon Sang-hyun of the People Power Party asked, "Are you saying that we should conduct a public verification alongside the election appeal, with the ruling and opposition parties and civic groups present, to confirm that there are no defects in the ballot boxes or ballots?" Acting Secretary-General Kang replied, "If you decide to proceed that way, we will do so."

Acting Chairperson of the NEC Wi Cheol-hwan also added, "We are receiving official requests from the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee to compensate for the costs (incurred by the prolonged protests)," and noted, "We are keenly aware of the need to resolve this situation as quickly as possible."