Election reform task force of 9 members, led by Rep. Song Ki-heon, to hold first meeting Wednesday

PM nominee Han Sung-sook confirmation hearing expected to proceed quickly

Civil servant and teacher rights task force, retirement age extension committee to resume

Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Han Byung-do speaks at a floor strategy meeting at the National Assembly on Tuesday. [Yonhap]
Democratic Party of Korea floor leader Han Byung-do speaks at a floor strategy meeting at the National Assembly on Tuesday. [Yonhap]

By Joo So-hyun, The Herald Business

The Democratic Party of Korea moved Tuesday to accelerate its response to the ballot shortage that disrupted voting in some constituencies during the June 3 local and by-elections. The party set a goal of reporting the parliamentary investigation request — submitted by both parties the previous day — to a plenary session of the National Assembly this week, with a vote planned for next week. The party's internal election reform task force is also set to launch Wednesday.

Floor leader Han Byung-do told a floor strategy meeting at the Assembly on Tuesday that the party would convene a plenary session immediately. "The National Assembly will conduct the parliamentary investigation as swiftly as possible," he said. "We will hold a plenary session this week to report the investigation plan, then put it to a vote at next week's plenary session and stand up the special committee in the shortest time possible."

Both the Democratic Party and the People Power Party submitted separate requests for a parliamentary investigation into the ballot shortage to the Assembly's bill-processing office on Monday. The Democratic Party plans to begin consultations on forming a special parliamentary investigation committee as soon as the People Power Party elects its new floor leader. Floor spokesperson Lee Joo-hee told reporters after the meeting that the two requests were "largely similar in content" and that the party would "actively pursue negotiations once the PPP's floor leadership is in place."

The Democratic Party also plans to hold the first meeting of its election reform task force Wednesday and move immediately to revise the Public Official Election Act and the National Election Commission Act. The task force comprises nine members, led by Rep. Song Ki-heon, and includes Reps. Kim Young-bae, Park Sang-hyeok, Lee Hae-sik, Park Gyun-taek, Park Hee-seung, Lee Jeong-heon, Lee Joo-hee and Im Mi-ae. Lee said the party would "faithfully and swiftly pursue a comprehensive review of the election administration system and the necessary legislative amendments."

The party said it would immediately form a special committee and begin confirmation hearing procedures for Prime Minister nominee Han Sung-sook as soon as her nomination is formally submitted to the Assembly. Lee said the chairmanship of the confirmation committee "customarily falls to the Democratic Party this time around," adding that once the committee is formed, the hearing must be completed within 15 days of the nomination's referral. "It won't take that long," she said.

Under the Confirmation Hearing Act, a confirmation hearing must be completed within 20 days of a nominee's submission to the Assembly and within 15 days of the nomination's referral to the special committee. The committee then submits a hearing report, and the full Assembly votes on the nomination.

The Democratic Party said it would also reactivate its internal task forces on basic rights legislation for civil servants and teachers, as well as its special committee on extending the retirement age. Lee said discussions put on hold until after the local elections would resume in the second half of the year. She added that policy committee chair Han Jeong-ae had indicated the party would ensure "sufficient discussion on retirement age extension during the regular session of the National Assembly in the second half."


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