Student councils at universities across Gwangju and South Jeolla Province have condemned the National Election Commission over a ballot shortage during the recent presidential election, calling for sweeping accountability measures.
Chonnam National University's student council convened a general assembly at the university's Gwangju campus Tuesday afternoon to discuss a formal resolution denouncing the NEC for infringing on students' right to vote.
The council said it had scheduled the assembly for Tuesday, the university's founding anniversary, "to reflect on the history and spirit of democracy that our university has walked, and to allow as many students as possible to participate without being constrained by classes." It urged students to "raise our voices together to restore the democracy that has been damaged and reclaim our right to vote, carrying on the spirit of Chonnam National University."
Chosun University's student council issued a statement June 5, asking: "As university students rooted in Gwangju, the sacred ground of democracy, we ask: how seriously does the National Election Commission take the weight of each vote cast by the people?" The council added that "a situation in which citizens' rights are restricted due to administrative unpreparedness cannot be tolerated under any circumstances."
Students at Mokpo National University and Suncheon National University followed on June 6, issuing back-to-back statements condemning the ballot shortage and calling for a full investigation, a comprehensive audit and greater transparency throughout the entire election management process.
sij@heraldcorp.com
