People Power Party Leader Chung Cheong-rae (left) and Democratic Party Leader Jang Dong-hyuk attend the 71st Memorial Day ceremony held at the Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul on the 6th. [Yonhap News]

Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People Power Party, stated on the 6th regarding the 'ballot shortage incident' during the June 3rd local elections, "A parliamentary investigation must be conducted immediately and a special prosecutor must be appointed promptly to thoroughly investigate."

The leader, speaking at a supreme council meeting held at the National Assembly on this holiday, said, "We don't know how many more such incidents have occurred nationwide, and we cannot trust the National Election Commission's announcement."

Regarding the resignation of Noh Tae-hak, chairman of the National Election Commission, the previous day and the commission's announcement of the circumstances surrounding the ballot shortage, he criticized, "At first, they claimed that only 14 places had to be sent additional ballots due to a shortage, but in the end, they admitted that ballots were insufficient at 50 polling stations." He added, "A total of 67 locations received additional ballots."

He emphasized, "This cannot end with Chairman Noh Tae-hak stepping down," and urged that "all members of the National Election Commission, as well as the chairmen and members of each regional election commission, must be held accountable until the end."

He also proposed, "Fundamentally, discussions on revising the election law must begin as soon as possible. I propose the formation of a 'National Election Commission Reform Body' where the ruling and opposition parties, along with experts and citizens, can jointly discuss reform measures for the National Election Commission."

He then asserted, "If Lee Jae-myung and the Democratic Party continue to ignore the public's anger and persist, it will lead to the end of their administration."