Acting election chief says politicians must not call for re-election over ballot shortage

Wi Cheol-hwan, acting chairman of the National Election Commission, said Tuesday that politicians should not be calling for a re-election over the June 3 local elections.

Wi made the remarks at a full session of the National Assembly's special parliamentary investigation committee on the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections, in response to a question from Reform Party lawmaker Lee Jun-seok about the possibility of holding a new vote.

"Ordinary civic groups and citizens can make such arguments — in their yards, in public squares," Wi said. "But I believe politicians, at the very least, should not be calling for a re-election."

He added that raising the prospect of a re-election after vote counting has been completed and winners have been announced "is a truly irresponsible claim."

Wi also said a re-election cannot be held without a court ruling.

"I can say with certainty that holding a re-election without a court ruling would require nothing short of a massive revolution — one in which the will of the people tears down all existing procedures and starts anew," he said.

People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyeon, who chairs the parliamentary investigation committee, objected that the comment went too far, prompting Wi to apologize. "If I caused a misunderstanding, I am sorry," Wi said.

However, he maintained that there is no legal basis for holding a re-election outside the law, and added that Berlin held a re-election only after two years of court proceedings.