'Obituary for the Funeral of Democracy' issued by elected officials Park Sae-rom and Kim Kyung-min [Photo = Hanmi Ilbo]

 Following the June 3rd local elections, amid escalating calls for a "runoff election" due to ballot shortages and claims of "election fraud," elected officials from Suseong District, Daegu, have announced their "renunciation of vested rights from election victory" and joined the "demand for a runoff election."

Based on reported information, this declaration of "renunciation of election victory" is the first of its kind nationwide following the June 3rd local elections, and political circles are keenly watching for potential "contagion."

On August 8th, at 3 PM, elected Suseong District Council members Park Sae-rom and Kim Kyung-min held a "Funeral for Democracy" in front of the Daegu Metropolitan Election Commission, announcing their demand for an investigation into the truth, punishment of those responsible, and a new election.

In their event announcement, the two elected officials stated, "We have been elected in the election. However, no seat is more precious than democracy." They added, "We cannot remain silent just because we have been elected, which is why we demand an investigation into the truth, punishment of those responsible, and a new election."

They further emphasized, "The right to participate in elections has been violated due to the ballot shortage, and trust in the election has been shattered." "No seat is more precious than the vote of the people."

Renunciation of Vested Rights from the June 3rd Local Elections: A First Nationwide

The core keyword of this declaration is "renunciation of vested rights from election victory."

These two individuals are not defeated candidates but elected officials who have already secured their seats. Despite this, they have come forward with demands for a new election, expressing their willingness to relinquish the political benefits gained from their victory.

This shifts the issue from a complaint by a losing candidate to a demand for procedural legitimacy from the position of a winner, which is a crucial aspect.

Notably, Park Sae-rom's election campaign was itself arduous. During the official campaign period, a campaign worker for Ms. Park was assaulted, leading to a police investigation. Furthermore, Ms. Park's campaign banners were vandalized and reported to the police and the Election Commission.

Given that Ms. Park was elected despite adverse conditions such as the assault on her campaign worker and the vandalism of her banners, her declaration, prioritizing the legitimacy of the election process over her own position, carries significant political weight.

Article 151 of the Public Official Election Act. [Photo = SBS broadcast capture]

'Funeral for Democracy' Held in Front of Daegu Election Commission

In a previous statement, Ms. Park stated, "We cannot sing of spring's arrival while holding a withered flower," demanding a new election nationwide, including her own.

She declared, "Even if I have benefited, or if my seat is secured, remaining silent about this abnormal election would be a betrayal of the noble will of the residents who trusted me and cast their sacred vote."

The "Funeral for Democracy" announced by the two elected officials is more akin to a symbolic political act than a mere protest rally.

The event announcement lists Park Sae-rom and Kim Kyung-min as "chief mourners." This expresses their concern that citizens' voting rights have been infringed upon due to the ballot shortage, that trust in the election has eroded, and their demand for a new election, presented in the format of a funeral.

The National Election Commission claimed that the shortage of ballots at some polling stations during the June 3rd local election was due to adjustments in the ballot printing volume, considering the increasing trend of early voting.

The Election Commission announced that additional ballots to cover the shortage were sent to 67 polling stations nationwide, of which 50 were actually used for voting, and 22 experienced temporary suspensions followed by a resumption of voting.

However, this is merely an ex-post facto explanation from the Election Commission, the party responsible for the incident.

Until the basis for ballot calculation, the process of determining printing volume, records of distribution to each polling station, the process of additional delivery, and whether voting was suspended in the field are disclosed and verified, the Election Commission's statements should be treated as claims, not facts.

The demands of elected officials Park Sae-rom and Kim Kyung-min target precisely this point.

The issue is not simply how many places experienced a shortage of ballots. The core questions are whether the state properly guaranteed the voters' right to vote, whether the election management agency has taken a responsible attitude and disclosed data after the incident, and whether the election process could gain public trust prior to the election results.

Of course, demands for a new election entail legal and institutional procedures. The validity of the entire election, defects in individual constituencies, the scope of voting rights infringement, and the impact on election results must undergo separate legal judgment and verification.

Therefore, the demands of elected officials Park Sae-rom and Kim Kyung-min should be accurately viewed as raising political and moral issues regarding election management failure, rather than as legal conclusions.

Nevertheless, the question posed by this declaration is clear.

If even those who won the election say, "Democracy comes before this seat," the Election Commission can no longer evade responsibility with mere apologies and explanations.

The elected officials' demand for a new election is not a refusal to accept defeat by the losing party. It is a demand for procedural legitimacy raised from the position of a winner.

The two elected officials appealed, "Please join us in the Funeral for Democracy."

This event, scheduled to be held in front of the Daegu Election Commission on June 8th, is expected to be more than just a political event for a local council member; it will likely be a scene that reveals the crisis of trust facing South Korea's election management system following the June 3rd local elections.