Prime Minister Kim: “If the NEC is going to be like this, wouldn’t it be better to dissolve it?”
Criticism over the shortage of ballots, controversy over the NEC’s responsibility, and pressure for institutional reform Quickly check the key issues, including the stance on cooperating with a parliamentary inquiry and investigation
Prime Minister Kim Minseok strongly criticized the National Election Commission at a ministerial meeting held on the 11th at the Government Complex Sejong over the shortage of ballots in the June 3 local elections.
Pointing out that ballot storage boxes had already been discarded before the court's preservation order, Prime Minister Kim said the NEC does not properly recognize the seriousness of the situation. He also made remarks to the effect that if institutional improvements are not made, even the dissolution of the NEC could be raised.
In addition, Prime Minister Kim said that the actions of some participants at a rally in Jamsil protesting the infringement of voting rights, where they privately questioned or insulted police officers and citizens, constitute a violation of democratic order, and stated that the government would respond with a zerotolerance policy. The government also said it is willing to cooperate with the ruling and opposition parties' discussions on a parliamentary inquiry and with the investigative agencies' swift investigation.