Democratic Party expands election reform task force into special committee

By Joo So-hyun, The Herald Business

The Democratic Party of Korea launched its Election System Reform Task Force on Wednesday in response to the ballot shortage that occurred during the June 3 local elections and National Assembly by-elections. The party plans to expand the task force into a full special committee and bring in outside experts.

Democratic Party floor leader Han Byung-do, speaking at the task force's inaugural meeting at the National Assembly, said the ballot shortage was "not a simple administrative failure but a grave matter in which the foundations of constitutional order have been damaged through a violation of popular sovereignty." He added that the party would "focus all of its resources on designing an election management system that meets the public's expectations and the spirit of the times."

Han also said the party would "clearly codify in the Public Official Election Act the procedures for printing, distributing and storing ballots" and would "strengthen procedural transparency in the vote-counting and winner-certification process so that not a single public doubt remains." He said the party would also "actively review amendments to the election commission law to carry out organizational reforms, including converting the National Election Commission chairmanship to a full-time position — a bill I have personally introduced."

Song Ki-heon, the task force's head, said the group would "professionally review all relevant laws, including the Public Official Election Act, the election commission law and even the Constitution, and derive legislative tasks with the guarantee of citizens' political rights as the top priority." He said the task force would focus on electoral reform to restore public trust, while a separate parliamentary investigation handles fact-finding and accountability.

The task force plans to hold its second meeting on June 16, when it will receive a briefing from the National Election Commission on the ballot shortage. A forum on election management reform is scheduled for June 17.

The Democratic Party said it would establish a tentatively named Special Committee on Election Management Reform that would encompass the task force and include additional outside members. Senior party spokesperson Kang Jun-hyeon told reporters Wednesday that the party's supreme council had voted in a closed session to establish the special committee.

Spokesperson Park Ji-hye said the move was intended to handle the matter "strategically and effectively, given that it is a serious issue with many aspects requiring careful judgment." She added that the task force would operate under the special committee, so there would be no overlap between the two bodies.

Asked whether a single-issue constitutional amendment targeting the election commission was possible, Kang said it "could happen," given that the party had pledged to use all available means if the parliamentary investigation revealed clear causes or serious problems. He added, however, that "there has been no internal discussion on the matter."