Election Commission Chairman Departs, Ruling and Opposition Parties Disagree... "Must Attend Audit" vs. "No Consultation"

Election Commission Chairman: "We take seriously the shortcomings in presidential election vote management... System to be reviewed"

Noh Tae-ak, Chairman of the National Election Commission, delivers his opening remarks. (Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Park Dong-ju = Noh Tae-ak, Chairman of the National Election Commission, is giving his opening remarks at the parliamentary audit of the National Election Commission, the Ministry of Personnel and Management, and other agencies by the National Assembly's Administration and Security Committee in Yeouido, Seoul, on October 15, 2025. 2025.10.15 pdj6635@yna.co.kr

Noh Tae-ak, Chairman of the National Election Commission, attended the National Assembly's Administration and Security Committee's parliamentary audit on the 15th and expressed his intention to improve some vote management issues that arose during the June 3 presidential election, such as the mishandling of ballots and proxy voting.

In his opening remarks, Chairman Noh stated, "We prepared more meticulously and thoroughly than ever before to ensure the successful presidential election." He added, "Despite these efforts, we acknowledge with great regret that some management deficiencies or shortcomings have ultimately been revealed."

He emphasized, "We will take both major and minor mistakes as a lesson, confront internal issues head-on, and objectively evaluate them from an external perspective to review the overall system and operations. We will do our utmost to restore public trust and ensure that democracy through elections is firmly rooted."

Earlier this month, the Election Commission established a 'Special Committee for Restoring Public Trust' to enhance fairness in recruitment and verify measures to prevent election-related incidents and accidents.

Regarding next year's local elections, Chairman Noh explained, "It is a crucial political process that realizes grassroots democracy and a democratic procedure to elect local leaders most directly connected to people's lives. We are strengthening preparations to ensure that all stages of the election are conducted fairly and transparently according to principles."

Following this, the ruling and opposition parties engaged in a dispute over the precedent of the Election Commission Chairman, who is also a Supreme Court Justice, departing the parliamentary audit after delivering their opening remarks.

On the 13th, Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae, who attended the Supreme Court's parliamentary audit by the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, was unable to leave his seat without permission from Chairperson Choo Mi-ae and listened to the questions from ruling and opposition lawmakers.

Rep. Seo Beom-soo of the People Power Party, the opposition party's whip, demanded, "Even if he is the head of a constitutional body, the National Assembly Act stipulates that the head of a central administrative agency must be present for questioning and answers. The rules of parliamentary operation should be the same for all standing committees. Please do not depart and attend the parliamentary audit."

In contrast, Rep. Yoon Kun-young of the Democratic Party, the ruling party's whip, countered, "The Legislation and Judiciary Committee summoned the Chief Justice as a general witness, which is why he could have been called. It is inappropriate to raise an issue like this suddenly at a parliamentary audit without prior consultation."

As Rep. Shin Jeong-hoon, Chairman of the Administration and Security Committee and a member of the Democratic Party, granted permission for departure according to precedent, Chairman Noh left his seat, and Hur Cheol-hoon, Secretary-General of the National Election Commission, agreed to answer the lawmakers' questions on his behalf. Yonhap News