Yun Ho-jung, former NEC chief to appear at second parliamentary investigation hearing

By Joo So-hyun, The Herald Business

Minister of Interior and Safety Yun Ho-jung and former National Election Commission chief Noh Tae-ak are expected to appear at the second institutional report hearing of the Special Committee on Parliamentary Investigation into the Ballot Shortage at the June 3 Local Elections.

According to political sources Tuesday, Yun, Noh and all eight sitting NEC commissioners — including acting NEC chair Wi Cheol-hwan — have confirmed they will appear as witnesses at the committee's second institutional report session scheduled for Wednesday.

The committee voted on June 23 to summon 69 witnesses and six reference persons for the second hearing, including 30 NEC officials, 20 officials from the Seoul Metropolitan and Songpa-gu election offices, and three Ministry of Interior and Safety officials including Yun.

Most of those summoned indicated they would attend, though the committee plans to finalize the witness list through additional ruling-opposition consultations. Yun Geon-yeong, the Democratic Party floor manager on the committee, told reporters after an inter-floor-manager meeting Tuesday that the panel had sorted out which witnesses would not appear at Wednesday's second institutional report session.

"We agreed to excuse those with valid reasons — such as a doctor's note, an absence form, or an overseas work trip," Yun said, adding that no other absences would be permitted. He also said the committee had notified Jo Hyeon-uk, chair of the fact-finding subcommittee, through the administrative office that his request to attend only in the evening due to daytime commitments could not be accommodated.

At the first institutional report session, 16 of 43 witnesses failed to appear for the morning session en masse, drawing sharp criticism. They later attended the afternoon session after acting chair Wi intervened.

With Yun attending in person, the Ministry of Interior and Safety — the agency responsible for election support — is expected to face the sharpest scrutiny at the second hearing. Lawmakers are likely to press the ministry on its communications with the NEC, how meetings were conducted, and whether President Lee Jae Myung was briefed.

The People Power Party is expected to focus its questioning on the police, particularly over whether excessive force was used during protests that blocked a polling station at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu. Acting Korean National Police Agency chief Yu Jae-seong and Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency chief Park Jeong-bo are among those in the crosshairs.

The committee also plans to conduct its first field inspection on Thursday, visiting Olympic Park and the Songpa-gu election office. "The ruling and opposition parties have come together so the National Assembly can visit and verify the sites as part of the parliamentary investigation," Yun said. "We hope those participating in on-site rallies will cooperate."