Subtitled News: "It's Customary, No Problem" Even When Absent on Election Day... 'Deep-Rooted Evils' at NEC Continue to Surface

It has been revealed that on the day of the June 3 local elections, only two members of the National Election Commission (NEC)—then-Chairperson Roh Tae-ak, who was a non-standing member, and standing member Wi Cheol-hwan—were present at the NEC office in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province.

This was confirmed through data submitted by the NEC to the office of People Power Party lawmaker Kim Eun-hye.

Seven non-standing members did not show up at the office, leading to criticism that they should have been present on election day, even as non-standing members.

At the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission, only five out of eight members, including the chairperson and the standing member, were present at the building or the vote-counting situation room on the day of the election.

When a shortage of ballots led to a suspension of voting in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 3rd, an emergency meeting of the NEC, which requires the attendance of election commissioners, was only hastily convened at midnight on the 4th.

The National Election Commission was established in 1963, three years after the April 19 Revolution, and was granted the status of an independent constitutional body to prevent "government-controlled elections."

For the past 60 years, it has maintained a dual system consisting of election commissioners—mostly legal professionals and scholars—and a secretariat in charge of practical operations. Analysts say this incident has exposed a structural problem within the NEC where no one takes responsibility.

When the so-called "basket voting" incident occurred during early voting for the presidential election on March 5, 2022, then-Chairperson Roh Jeong-hee also did not show up at the office.

At that time, the NEC also explained that "as they are non-standing members, it was in accordance with precedent," and an emergency committee meeting was held only two days later, on the 7th.

Experts point out that unless NEC members are transitioned to standing positions and control over election officials is strengthened, similar incidents will continue to recur.

Reported by Kim Minjeong | Video Editing: | Graphics by Yook Do-hyun | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.