People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok, who visited Jamsil Olympic Park over the weekend, has been sending a stream of pointed messages on social media over the ballot shortage that marred the June 3 local elections.
Writing on his Facebook page Saturday, Jang said that if the Democratic Party refuses a special prosecutor investigation despite the entire nation demanding the truth, "it is because Lee Jae Myung, the Democratic Party and the National Election Commission are all accomplices." He urged the party to "immediately agree to special prosecutor discussions if they truly have nothing to hide."
Jang also criticized the party for creating what he called unnecessary political special prosecutor probes at will while stonewalling the one that actually matters. "Kim Min-seok and Jung Chung-rae are all lip service and nothing more," he said.
He went on to say that the irregularities already on record more than justify a special prosecutor investigation, citing ballots that ran short and left some voters unable to cast their votes, exit poll results announced while voting was still under way, and counting errors that included omitted ballots, duplicate entries and vote tallies entered under the wrong candidates.
Jang also said that whatever findings the joint investigative team produces, the public will not trust them, arguing the team "takes orders from Lee Jae Myung and answers to the Democratic Party." He said the investigation should be handed to a special prosecutor recommended by the People Power Party.
Meanwhile, crowds again gathered over the weekend at the protest outside the Jamsil vote-counting center, where demonstrators have been rallying against the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections. Seoul Metropolitan Government real-time urban data showed the Olympic Park population at between 16,000 and 18,000 people as of 3 p.m. Sunday.
The police-prosecution joint investigative team has wrapped up its search and seizure of National Election Commission servers and is set to begin formal witness summons and questioning this week.
husn7@heraldcorp.com
