Lawmaker pushes bills to curb election body leave abuse, strengthen external oversight

By Jung Seok-jun, The Herald Business

People Power Party lawmaker Lee Sang-hwi on Wednesday introduced two bills aimed at reforming the National Election Commission, seeking to restrict indiscriminate leave-taking by NEC staff, strengthen external verification and require the preservation of election records.

Election administration work is concentrated in the period leading up to voting day, yet current law provides no separate mechanism to regulate leave requests filed just before an election. Concerns over the preservation of records and evidence during election disputes have further fueled calls for a broad overhaul of the NEC's personnel and records management.

Under the proposed legislation, the chairperson of each election commission could restrict or request changes to leave taken by civil servants from 60 days before an election or voting day through the day itself. Exceptions would apply for unavoidable circumstances such as personal injury, illness or child-rearing. The measure is designed to prevent staffing gaps and disruptions to election operations caused by last-minute leave requests.

The bills would also allow the National Assembly to demand verification from the NEC when issues arise that undermine citizens' right to vote, the legality of balloting and vote-counting, or public confidence in election results. The Assembly could require the preservation of relevant records alongside any verification request — a safeguard against the destruction or disappearance of materials needed for post-election review.

Verification would be carried out by an Election Management Verification and Investigation Committee composed entirely of outside figures, with no NEC insiders involved. Members would be recommended by the National Assembly, academic circles in public administration, the Korean Bar Association, journalist organizations and civic groups. Findings would be submitted to the Assembly and disclosed to the public, effectively barring the NEC from conducting what Lee called "self-verification" — investigating itself and drawing its own conclusions.

"If staffing disappears due to indiscriminate leave before an election, and records cannot even be properly preserved after problems arise, the public cannot trust the NEC," Lee said. "We must prevent personnel gaps before elections and ensure accountability through external verification afterward."