Experts share their views on the direction of reform for the National Election Commission at the first expert forum of the National Assembly's special committee investigating the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections, held at the National Assembly on Wednesday. Participants included Ha Sang-eung, a professor of political science and diplomacy at Sogang University; Lim Ji-bong, a professor at Sogang University School of Law; Jeong Tae-ho, an emeritus professor at Kyung Hee University School of Law; Moon Sang-bu, an adviser at Daeryuk Aju; Lee Hee-beom, chairman of the Korea NGO Standing Alliance; Cha Jin-a, a professor at Korea University School of Law; Kim Hyun-sook, a research fellow at the Innovation Policy Research Institute; and Ryu Jong-yeol, co-chairman of the National Civic Council. [Yonhap]
Experts share their views on the direction of reform for the National Election Commission at the first expert forum of the National Assembly's special committee investigating the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections, held at the National Assembly on Wednesday. Participants included Ha Sang-eung, a professor of political science and diplomacy at Sogang University; Lim Ji-bong, a professor at Sogang University School of Law; Jeong Tae-ho, an emeritus professor at Kyung Hee University School of Law; Moon Sang-bu, an adviser at Daeryuk Aju; Lee Hee-beom, chairman of the Korea NGO Standing Alliance; Cha Jin-a, a professor at Korea University School of Law; Kim Hyun-sook, a research fellow at the Innovation Policy Research Institute; and Ryu Jong-yeol, co-chairman of the National Civic Council. [Yonhap]

Experts have called for constitutional reform to prevent a repeat of the ballot shortage that marred the June 3 local elections, as the National Assembly's special parliamentary investigation subcommittee vowed to press ahead with a recount and hearings to restore public trust.

The subcommittee convened an expert forum Wednesday on the causes of the ballot shortage and the structural reform of the National Election Commission, gathering opinions from specialists across various fields.

Lim Ji-bong, a professor at Sogang University School of Law, said constitutional reform was the most fundamental solution. "If we pursue constitutional reform, we must delete the provision that allows the chief justice of the Supreme Court to appoint three members of the NEC," he said.

Lim argued the arrangement was incompatible with democratic principles. "The chief justice is an appointed official — how can such a person hold nomination powers? It runs counter to democratic principles," he said. "About 48,000 cases come before the Supreme Court each year. Supreme Court justices are already too busy handling those cases to be elected NEC chairman, which is why their understanding of election administration and their grip on the organization are both weak."

Cha Jin-a, a professor at Korea University School of Law, said proposals to allow the Board of Audit and Inspection to conduct disciplinary inspections of the NEC through constitutional reform were problematic. "A court has already ruled such an arrangement unconstitutional, and amending the Board of Audit and Inspection Act to achieve the same end would also be unconstitutional," she said.

She added that the NEC's lax discipline stemmed from organizational and structural problems rooted in its part-time commissioner system. "Converting commissioners to full-time positions can be achieved through amendments to the NEC Act, without constitutional reform," she said.

Jeong Tae-ho, an emeritus professor at Kyung Hee University School of Law, said expanding the Board of Audit and Inspection's disciplinary oversight had both merits and serious drawbacks. "It would help restore discipline, but the Public Official Election Act contains vague provisions that could be abused by an authoritarian government," he said, calling instead for an independent internal audit body established at the statutory level.

He proposed staffing such a body with outside audit professionals and ensuring that any disciplinary committee be composed predominantly of external members.

Earlier, the subcommittee conducted on-site inspections — first at the handball arena in Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul on Thursday, July 2, and then at the NEC headquarters and the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission on Tuesday. The subcommittee has decided to summon 97 witnesses, including NEC commissioners, for its first hearing on July 14.

Yoon Sang-hyun, the People Power Party lawmaker chairing the subcommittee, said a recount may not hold up legally but serves a political purpose. "Even if a recount is legally questionable, it is a way to address public distrust of the NEC and a measure that embraces demands to protect voting rights," he said, adding that additional hearings would prevent the political establishment from turning a blind eye to the issue.


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