'People Power Party must stop spreading election fraud conspiracy theories, calls to abolish early voting'

Democratic Party of Korea leader Jung Chung-rae speaks at a field supreme council meeting at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Seo-gu, Gwangju, on Friday. [Yonhap]
Democratic Party of Korea leader Jung Chung-rae speaks at a field supreme council meeting at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Seo-gu, Gwangju, on Friday. [Yonhap]

Democratic Party of Korea leader Jung Chung-rae called Friday for the National Assembly to immediately launch a parliamentary investigation special committee into the ballot shortage that marred the June 3 local elections, saying the probe plan should be adopted "as early as next week."

Jung made the remarks at a field supreme council meeting at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center in Gwangju on Friday morning, adding that "a special prosecutor investigation to uncover the truth must also take place as soon as possible."

"The Democratic Party will take every measure available in the National Assembly — as the public demands and until the public is satisfied," Jung said. "We will hold those responsible fully accountable and put in place every safeguard necessary to ensure this never happens again."

Turning to the People Power Party, Jung said it must immediately stop "the regressive, anti-democratic calls to stoke public division through election fraud conspiracy theories and to abolish early voting." He said the Democratic Party would not be swayed by any attempt to obscure the core of the issue.

He went on to say the party would focus solely on "restoring the foundations of democracy and defending the people's right to political participation."


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