Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho [Yonhap]
Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho [Yonhap]

Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho urged a full investigation into the ballot shortage that marred the June 3 local elections.

He also expressed concern over a resurgence of election-fraud conspiracy theories that the incident has reignited.

"I share the public's concern and anger over the ballot shortage and strongly urge the National Election Commission to take responsible accountability and conduct a swift, transparent investigation," Jeong said Saturday on social media.

He called the incident "a serious violation of suffrage — the foundation of democracy and an inviolable right of the people." Once the facts are established, he said, "thorough systemic reform as well as heavy accountability for those responsible must follow without fail."

He said he expected the government and ruling and opposition parties alike to act swiftly. "I am confident that strong and effective measures the public can accept — including a special prosecutor or parliamentary investigation — will be taken soon," he said.

However, Jeong said he had deep concerns about election-fraud conspiracy theories and illegal acts of violence and intimidation.

He characterized such behavior as "an attempt to pursue political self-interest by sowing division in the community rather than solving the problem," and said "no attempt to substitute the legitimate anger of citizens whose suffrage was violated with delusion and hatred will be tolerated."

He added that the government would respond firmly to any effort to turn "genuinely peaceful, nonviolent protests — which deserve full respect — into violent demonstrations," and warned that "conspiracy theorists and extremists have no place in the space that belongs to citizens asserting their rightful claims and to democracy."


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