Yongin Mayor Lee Sang-il of the People Power Party called on the president to apologize over the ballot shortage that disrupted voting in multiple areas during the June 3 presidential election.
"The fact that a significant number of voters were unable to cast their ballots due to a shortage of ballot papers in various regions during the June 3 main election constitutes a grave violation of citizens' right to vote — this is an incident that cannot be overlooked," Lee said. "The National Election Commission failed to uphold even the most basic principles of democracy. This has deepened public distrust in elections, and the full circumstances of the incident must be thoroughly investigated, with those responsible held firmly accountable."
Lee then said the ruling camp must squarely face the public's anger. "Citizens, particularly young people, are furious at the irresponsible attitude shown by Cheong Wa Dae, the government and the ruling party in connection with this incident," he said. "Those in power must confront that reality and conduct themselves in a manner that meets the public's expectations."
He drew a sharp contrast between the government's response to a corporate controversy and its handling of the ballot crisis. "The same administration that sent the president and ministers to pressure and berate a company over the so-called Starbucks 'Tank Day' marketing campaign has responded to an unprecedented violation of voting rights — where citizens could not exercise their sovereignty because there were no ballots — with an attitude of 'that's for the election commission to sort out,'" he said. "That is nothing but cowardice aimed at evading political responsibility."
Lee went on to say the ruling camp must recognize that such evasion only deepens public anger. "The president must apologize to the people, offer a sincere explanation, and declare a commitment to a rigorous investigation into the truth," he said. "This incident must serve as an opportunity for a comprehensive overhaul of the election system — one that ensures elections are conducted with complete transparency, fairness and integrity, leaving no room for controversy or dispute."
Lee said the National Election Commission, having long eroded public trust, must undergo a thorough restructuring of its systems, practices, culture and habits. "In particular, early voting has reached a point where a significant portion of the public no longer trusts it, and abolishing it while extending the hours for main-day voting should be considered," he said. "The biggest problem with early voting, held four or five days before the main election, is that it prevents voters from reflecting changes in circumstances after they have already made their choice."
"If a voter casts an early ballot for a particular candidate and that candidate then causes a public scandal before election day, the voter's mind may change," Lee said. "The voter may want to make a different choice, but having already voted early, changing their vote is impossible."
"Early voting blocks voters from making new choices as the election landscape shifts," he said. "Since early voting was introduced to boost voter participation, there is now a need to consider abolishing it and sufficiently extending main-day voting hours instead." Lee broke what locals call the "Yongin curse" against incumbent mayors winning re-election by easily securing a second term. He is regarded in the region as a potential future presidential contender whose capabilities surpass those of Lee Jae Myung, the former Seongnam mayor who is now president.
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