On the 18th, at the first plenary session of the Special Committee for National Audit and Investigation, aimed at investigating the truth of infringements on citizens' right to vote, such as the ballot shortage during the 9th National Simultaneous Local Elections, held at the National Assembly, Chairman Yoon Sang-hyun of the People Power Party is presenting the adoption of the national audit plan. [Yonhap News] 

A National Assembly special committee to investigate the causes and responsibilities behind the ballot shortage during the June 3rd local elections kicked off its work on the 18th.

The committee is expected to first delve into the background of the unprecedented situation where citizens' right to exercise their sovereignty was restricted due to ballot shortages, by August 1st. Based on this, it is also anticipated to undertake a large-scale reform of the election commission's organizational and budgetary structure, as well as the overall election management system.

Attention is also being paid to whether there will be a consensus for a "one-point constitutional amendment" to enhance oversight and checks on the National Election Commission, which is guaranteed independence by the constitution.

However, the People Power Party has stated that a special prosecutor is needed beyond the national audit, while the Democratic Party views the People Power Party's politicization of the right to vote as a strategic maneuver. Therefore, confrontations between the ruling and opposition parties are expected during the committee's operation.

Chairman Yoon Sang-hyun of the National Election Commission's National Audit and Investigation Special Committee delivers remarks. [Seoul=Yonhap News]

◇ National Audit Committee to Operate for 45 Days... Followed by Hearings After Agency Reports and On-Site Investigations

The National Audit and Investigation Special Committee is expected to operate for a total of 45 days, from today until August 1st, with the aim of uncovering the truth about the causes of the ballot shortage and responsibilities throughout the post-event process.

The committee is expected to commence its full activities by receiving an agency report from the National Election Commission around the 23rd.

A committee official told Yonhap News, "There was a consensus among the floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties to proceed with the committee's work expeditiously." He added, "It is likely that a plenary session will be held around the 23rd to decide on the committee's operational procedures and select key witnesses and reference persons, while also receiving an agency report from the National Election Commission."

Following this, plans are in place to receive a second agency report by summoning witnesses and reference persons not only from the National Election Commission but also from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the National Police Agency.

After conducting on-site investigations (verification) of places like vote counting stations, the committee will proceed to audit hearings after the chairman consults with the floor leaders on schedules, frequency, and witness requests.

The operating period can be extended through a resolution by the plenary session if deemed necessary.

The National Audit and Investigation Special Committee consists of a total of 18 members, including the chairman. It is composed of an equal number of members from the ruling and opposition parties: 9 from the Democratic Party (ruling party), 7 from the People Power Party (opposition party), and 1 each from the Cho Kuk Innovation Party and the Reform Party.

Yoon Sang-hyun, a member of the People Power Party, will serve as the chairman, and floor leaders Yun Keon-young of the Democratic Party and Seo Bum-soo of the People Power Party have been appointed as the floor leaders for their respective parties.

Floor leaders of the ruling and opposition parties of the National Election Commission's National Audit and Investigation Special Committee converse. [Seoul=Yonhap News]

◇ From the Circumstances of the Ballot Shortage to "Overseas Business Trips for Leisure"... A Comprehensive Review of Suspicions

The National Audit and Investigation Special Committee plans to thoroughly investigate the circumstances surrounding the ballot shortage, the extension of voting hours, the delay in the transport of ballot boxes, and to propose reforms to the election management personnel and budget operations.

First, the committee will focus on clarifying the criteria used to calculate the number of ballot papers to be printed and the chain of command and reporting system after the ballot shortage was recognized.

According to the National Election Commission's internal investigation results released on the 9th, a shortage of 7,194 ballot papers was recorded in 91 polling stations nationwide. Voting was suspended in 26 locations due to the shortage, with suspension times ranging from a minimum of 4 minutes to a maximum of 105 minutes.

The decision-making process behind the National Election Commission's "50% printing reduction directive," which led to the unprecedented ballot shortage, is also expected to be revealed in more detail through the national audit.

Furthermore, given that the investigation by the "Truth-Finding Committee on Ballot Shortage Incidents" revealed that former National Election Commission Chairman Roh Tae-ak first learned of the situation through media reports, the Election Commission's flawed reporting system is also expected to come under scrutiny.

Issues of lax discipline and suspicions of mismanagement within the National Election Commission are also to be addressed in the national audit.

These include the phenomenon of mass resignations by Election Commission staff before national elections, only to return after the elections, termed "evasive resignations," and suspicions of "overseas business trips for leisure" primarily to popular resort destinations like the Maldives.

A committee official stated in a phone call with Yonhap News, "We plan to address not only immediate issues like the ballot shortage but also fundamental problems within the National Election Commission's system. We will review all matters comprehensively."

Acting Secretary-General Kang Dong-wan of the National Election Commission heads to the People Power Party's floor leader's office. [Seoul=Yonhap News]

◇ "Constitutional Amendment Inevitable for Structural Reform"... "One-Point Constitutional Amendment" Also a Focus

Based on the truth-finding investigation, the committee aims to identify structural issues in election management organizations and budget operations and to formulate transparent election management reform measures to prevent the recurrence of infringement on the right to vote.

There are significant voices within the political sphere suggesting that a constitutional amendment is ultimately necessary for this.

Consequently, the pursuit of a "one-point constitutional amendment" for the reform of the National Election Commission is also a matter of interest.

Analyses suggest that constitutional amendment is unavoidable to address the loose organizational structure, such as a system that is not subject to external oversight as an independent constitutional body, and the practice of Supreme Court justices concurrently serving as election commission chairmen.

Specifically, the constitution stipulates that the National Election Commission shall have nine members (three appointed by the President, three elected by the National Assembly, and three nominated by the Chief Justice), and restricts the dismissal of election commission members. Therefore, amending the constitution is necessary to adjust the number of commission members or to strengthen accountability.

Given that the Constitutional Court ruled that the National Election Commission is not subject to the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit, there is a possibility that the constitutional provisions may need to include content regarding the audit of the National Election Commission.

Democratic Party Policy Coordination Meeting. [Seoul=Yonhap News]

◇ People Power Party Escalates Offensive Against Ruling Party, Demanding Special Prosecutor... Democratic Party Counters with "Election Fraud Conspiracy Theory" Accusations

With the People Power Party, which heads the National Audit and Investigation Special Committee, signaling a full-scale offensive against the Lee Jae-myung administration using the "election mismanagement" controversy as leverage, the ruling and opposition parties are expected to engage in fierce debate over "government responsibility."

People Power Party Floor Leader Jung Jin-sik stated at a party caucus on the same day, "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety is the administrative body responsible for elections, and Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung reportedly visited the local election vote counting and tabulation support center established at the Government Complex on the day of the June 3rd election, urging all efforts to ensure the fairest and most transparent election possible."

Rep. Seo Bum-soo, the opposition party's floor leader, also wrote on Facebook, "It is not enough to investigate only the National Election Commission. We will also examine the response processes of related agencies, including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the police, to clarify responsibility," adding, "We will reveal to the public in detail why there was a shortage of ballots, who made what decisions, and why appropriate measures were not taken even when the problems were recognized in advance."

Conversely, the Democratic Party plans to respond resolutely, viewing any offensive unrelated to uncovering the truth and preparing preventive measures as political wrangling.

Earlier, on the 10th, Democratic Party Floor Leader Han Byung-do criticized, "The People Power Party is injecting election fraud conspiracy theories into the ballot shortage incident," and denounced it as "an attempt to deny election results, incite national division, and revive the specter of 'Yoon Again.'"