People Power Party Special Committee Chairman Joo Jin-woo delivers opening remarks at the first meeting of the Special Committee on Preventing the Cancellation of President Lee Jae-myung's Trial. June 22, 2026. [Photo=Yonhap News]

Regarding the special counsel to investigate the ballot paper shortage crisis, the People Power Party has effectively expressed its opposition to the Democratic Party's recommendation proposal. 

Representative Yoon Sang-hyun of the People Power Party, who chairs the National Assembly's Special Committee on Investigation, stated during a briefing at the National Assembly on the 5th, “Are the President, the government, and the National Election Commission (NEC) not the most important (subjects for discovering the truth)?” He expressed his opposition to the proposal made by Floor Leader Han Byung-do to have a third party make the recommendation.

He continued, “The state failed to take necessary measures (to protect voting rights). Therefore, having the opposition party make the recommendation would be far more helpful in approaching the substantive truth of the ballot shortage crisis.”

Special Committee member Representative Joo Jin-woo said on Facebook, “Floor Leader Han Byung-do says he will propose a special counsel bill for the NEC with a third-party recommendation, such as from the Korean Bar Association. That is unacceptable,” adding, “A special counsel must be free from any influence of the government for an investigation without sanctuaries and the reform of the election system to be possible.”

He further questioned, “When the Democratic Party was the opposition, they determined all special counsels, including the ‘Marine Corps Special Counsel.’ Why has their position changed 180 degrees since then?” and argued, “Unless it is a special counsel recommended by the People Power Party, it will be ineffective. The Democratic Party’s influence over the special counsel must be fundamentally excluded.”

In another Facebook post, Representative Joo shared a news headline stating that Acting Chairman of the National Election Commission Wi Chul-hwan is a former president of the Korean Bar Association, writing, “A special counsel recommended by the Korean Bar Association investigating Wi Chul-hwan, a former president of the Korean Bar Association? Is the Democratic Party playing games?”

In response, one netizen commented, “Generally, a special counsel is appointed by the opposition party or the victims. Nearly 90% of the 140 polling stations where the ballot shortage occurred were areas favorable to the People Power Party,” and suggested, “If a third party is to recommend one, it would be better for Liberty and Innovation to do it.”

Another opinion expressed distrust in the current Korean Bar Association president, stating, “The current president of the Bar Association said nothing when the Democratic Party went on a rampage of impeachment the year before last, when they decided to wipe out the prosecution—a pillar of the judicial system that has stood for decades—in an instant, or when they unilaterally railroaded major changes such as the law on legal distortion, the constitutional petition system, and the expansion of Supreme Court justices.”

Reporter Im Yo-hee