![Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo. [Yonhap]](https://wimg.heraldcorp.com/news/cms/2026/06/10/news-p.v1.20260527.beea303e60c64cc0a68de41387eaed36_P1.jpg)
Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo on Tuesday called for by-elections in races decided by narrow margins following a ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections, and said the National Election Commission should be overhauled and its leadership criminally prosecuted.
Hong wrote on his social media account Tuesday night that the June 3 local elections, viewed objectively, were a win for the Democratic Party and a strong showing for the People Power Party — yet factions within both parties were demanding their respective leaderships step down, claiming defeat. "This appears to be because each side is simply unhappy with its current leadership," he said.
He then criticized the NEC over what he called an unprecedented violation of voting rights caused by its mismanagement of the elections. He said the commission had been given too much latitude for too long under the guise of being a constitutionally independent body. As a result, he said, it had fallen into a pattern of conduct unworthy of a public institution — including poor election administration, nepotistic hiring, and staff taking leave and vacations during the election period.
"We can no longer leave the NEC to manage elections the way it did, when elections come around almost every year," Hong said. He added that all current members should be forced to resign and that placing the commission under judiciary personnel should be reconsidered.
Hong particularly said selective by-elections and criminal punishment of those responsible were necessary.
"In constituencies where the outcome was decided by a narrow margin, it seems by-elections should be held through election nullification suits," he said.
He also said the NEC chairperson, secretary-general, senior officials and the heads of the relevant local election commissions would all find it difficult to avoid criminal charges. "They must all be made to resign," he said.
yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com
