▲ President Lee
President Lee Jae-myung addressed the protests over suffrage rights sparked by the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections, stating, "Peaceful assemblies for the restoration of popular sovereignty must be actively guaranteed. However, we must track down and hold accountable those responsible for the illegal violence and fake news that have hijacked these protests."
President Lee made these remarks this afternoon (June 19) while presiding over a meeting of senior secretaries and aides at the Blue House, adding, "A stern response is inevitable regarding the violence around the Jamsil counting station, which has already reached an intolerable limit."
He emphasized, "Only by holding those responsible for illegal violence and fake news can the freedom of assembly, peaceful protests, and the legitimate demands of the people for the restoration of suffrage be properly expressed."
He also warned the political sphere, stating, "They must not jump on the bandwagon of illegal violence or be swayed by social unrest."
However, President Lee added, "Rather than that, I urge you to pool your efforts toward a thorough investigation into the truth and fundamental reform of election management."
Regarding the current situation, President Lee assessed it as "a result of the total incompetence, negligence, and moral hazard of the National Election Commission, which pursued organizational interests with the power delegated by the sovereign people while abandoning its given responsibilities."
He further stated, "We must hasten a comprehensive revision of the law to dismantle and reform the existing election management system, along with a thorough investigation, to ensure that such problems never happen again."
He continued, "Due to the realistic limitations where even the President cannot intervene, there is almost nothing we can do," and emphasized, "Beyond institutional reform, we must also actively consider constitutional amendments if necessary."
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.