Alphabiz - President Lee to Meet Top State Officials Amid Fallout from Ballot Shortage in Local Elections

President Lee Jae-myung speaks during a government briefing by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment (Korea Meteorological Administration) and the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission at the Sejong Convention Center on June 17. (Photo: Yonhap News Agency)

[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] Amid growing fallout from the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections, President Lee Jae-myung is set to meet with key state leaders on June 8 to discuss oversight and reform measures concerning the election authority.

The presidential office announced on June 7 that a meeting of the nation’s four top state officials will be held at the presidential office on the afternoon of June 8. The attendees will include National Assembly Speaker Cho Jung-sik, Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Constitutional Court Chief Justice Kim Sang-hwan, and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Cho Hee-dae. The chairperson of the National Election Commission, previously considered part of the five top state officials, has been excluded from the meeting.

While the gathering is expected to serve as an introductory meeting for the newly elected National Assembly Speaker, observers anticipate that discussions will also address enhanced oversight of the National Election Commission and potential reform measures, in light of the ongoing controversy.

President Lee has strongly reprimanded the National Election Commission over the ballot shortage incident, ordering a swift investigation and a thorough determination of the facts. In a statement posted on social media, he urged the National Assembly to promptly launch a parliamentary inquiry to clarify the circumstances and establish measures to prevent a recurrence.

He further instructed the formation of a joint investigative task force involving prosecutors and police to determine accountability and uncover the full scope of the incident.

“The National Election Commission has caused significant disruption to citizens’ voting rights during the local election process,” President Lee stated. “While the incident itself is difficult to understand, the subsequent response and explanations to the public have also been insufficient.”

He emphasized that the chairperson of the National Election Commission is designated as one of the country’s five top state officials because the body is an independent institution with authority, responsibility, and obligations comparable to the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. “An independent institution that has lost public trust has no reason to exist,” he added.

President Lee also called on the Commission to take the situation seriously and undertake a fundamental review of its organizational operations and overall election management, demonstrating a strong commitment to reform and renewal at a level that can restore public trust.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office has launched a joint investigative task force with the police and begun a full-scale investigation. The prosecution stated that it will work closely with law enforcement authorities to thoroughly address public concerns and rigorously uncover the truth behind the incident.

Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)