The ruling and opposition parties are at an impasse over the timing of a recount of 2.47 million ballots from the June 3 local elections, currently stored at the handball stadium in Olympic Park, Songpa District, Seoul. The Democratic Party insists that the schedule for the recount should be determined by a vote, while the People Power Party advocates for extending the national inquiry period through bipartisan agreement.
During the second hearing of the National Assembly's special committee on the investigation into the ballot shortage and election management reform on July 22, the Democratic Party's call for an immediate recount clashed with the People Power Party's proposal for a special investigation-led recount, mirroring the situation from July 14.
The Democratic Party argues that the recount must occur before the committee's activities conclude on August 1, urging committee chairman Yoon Sang-hyun to put a schedule change proposal to a vote. Lawmaker Lee Hae-sik stated, "It seems impossible to reach a unanimous agreement, so I request that the principle of majority rule be applied to decide on the voting schedule change." Fellow lawmaker Lee Gi-heon emphasized, "No further debate is necessary. There are less than ten days left in the activity period, and we must set a schedule for the recount, even if it requires a vote."
The ruling party's push for speed is interpreted as an effort to maintain control over the narrative surrounding the ballot shortage, with party leader Jang Dong-hyuk frequently visiting Olympic Park. Lawmaker Yoon Geon-young, the ruling party's secretary, remarked, "The National Election Commission has stated that a political agreement in the National Assembly could make it possible, and the joint investigation team has expressed respect for the national inquiry committee's recount. The People Power Party's claims appear to be mere stalling tactics, raising suspicions of a 'bedroom investigation.'"
Conversely, the People Power Party emphasizes the need to wait for the special investigation to commence before proceeding with the recount. Lawmaker Joo Jin-woo argued, "If we conduct the recount primarily focused on the National Election Commission, which will be under investigation by the special prosecutor, can we ensure objectivity and gain public trust? It would not be too late to discuss this after an objective investigation by the special prosecutor." Lawmaker Choi Bo-yoon added, "There are still parts where data has not been submitted, and many issues remain unresolved regarding fact-finding and system improvement. We must acknowledge that a recount is impossible by August 1 and first discuss extending the national inquiry committee's period."
Additionally, lawmakers Kim Eun-hye and Shin Dong-wook expressed skepticism about an immediate recount. This stance is seen as a strategy to create an environment where a trusted entity can take the lead, following the opposition's earlier achievement of a 'bipartisan agreement on special prosecutor recommendations.' Opposition secretary Seo Beom-soo stated, "Isn't the call for a special prosecutor due to distrust in investigative agencies? The national inquiry committee must publicly verify alongside the special prosecutor to secure public trust and achieve a clear fact-finding mission."
In this standoff, Chairman Yoon stated, "A recount cannot replace the special investigation, nor can the special investigation replace the recount. Our duty is to open the ballot boxes and inform the public of the accurate facts. If the timing of the special investigation does not align with the national inquiry, we can consider working with the joint investigation team dispatched to the special prosecutor." In this context, Kang Dong-wan, acting secretary of the National Election Commission, indicated that if an agreement is reached between the parties, a recount could be possible as early as next week, contingent on the verification scope of the national inquiry committee and compliance with other legal requirements.
During the second hearing of the National Assembly's special committee on the investigation into the ballot shortage and election management reform on July 22, the Democratic Party's call for an immediate recount clashed with the People Power Party's proposal for a special investigation-led recount, mirroring the situation from July 14.
The Democratic Party argues that the recount must occur before the committee's activities conclude on August 1, urging committee chairman Yoon Sang-hyun to put a schedule change proposal to a vote. Lawmaker Lee Hae-sik stated, "It seems impossible to reach a unanimous agreement, so I request that the principle of majority rule be applied to decide on the voting schedule change." Fellow lawmaker Lee Gi-heon emphasized, "No further debate is necessary. There are less than ten days left in the activity period, and we must set a schedule for the recount, even if it requires a vote."
The ruling party's push for speed is interpreted as an effort to maintain control over the narrative surrounding the ballot shortage, with party leader Jang Dong-hyuk frequently visiting Olympic Park. Lawmaker Yoon Geon-young, the ruling party's secretary, remarked, "The National Election Commission has stated that a political agreement in the National Assembly could make it possible, and the joint investigation team has expressed respect for the national inquiry committee's recount. The People Power Party's claims appear to be mere stalling tactics, raising suspicions of a 'bedroom investigation.'"
Conversely, the People Power Party emphasizes the need to wait for the special investigation to commence before proceeding with the recount. Lawmaker Joo Jin-woo argued, "If we conduct the recount primarily focused on the National Election Commission, which will be under investigation by the special prosecutor, can we ensure objectivity and gain public trust? It would not be too late to discuss this after an objective investigation by the special prosecutor." Lawmaker Choi Bo-yoon added, "There are still parts where data has not been submitted, and many issues remain unresolved regarding fact-finding and system improvement. We must acknowledge that a recount is impossible by August 1 and first discuss extending the national inquiry committee's period."
Additionally, lawmakers Kim Eun-hye and Shin Dong-wook expressed skepticism about an immediate recount. This stance is seen as a strategy to create an environment where a trusted entity can take the lead, following the opposition's earlier achievement of a 'bipartisan agreement on special prosecutor recommendations.' Opposition secretary Seo Beom-soo stated, "Isn't the call for a special prosecutor due to distrust in investigative agencies? The national inquiry committee must publicly verify alongside the special prosecutor to secure public trust and achieve a clear fact-finding mission."
In this standoff, Chairman Yoon stated, "A recount cannot replace the special investigation, nor can the special investigation replace the recount. Our duty is to open the ballot boxes and inform the public of the accurate facts. If the timing of the special investigation does not align with the national inquiry, we can consider working with the joint investigation team dispatched to the special prosecutor." In this context, Kang Dong-wan, acting secretary of the National Election Commission, indicated that if an agreement is reached between the parties, a recount could be possible as early as next week, contingent on the verification scope of the national inquiry committee and compliance with other legal requirements.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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