NEC Chair Rho Tae-ak resigns over ballot shortage, says he will cooperate fully with parliamentary investigation

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\r\n[Financial News] Rho Tae-ak, chair of the National Election Commission (NEC), resigned voluntarily on the 5th, taking responsibility for voting delays caused by ballot shortages in parts of Seoul. NEC Secretary General Heo Cheol-hoon also offered to step down.
At a public apology event held that day at the NEC in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, Rho said, "Taking full responsibility for everything that happened, I will step down as NEC chair."
Rho said, "I deeply regret causing public concern over the ballot shortage that occurred at some polling stations during the 9th nationwide local elections held on June 3. It is deeply regrettable that the public's strong interest and active expression of will were undermined by the shortage. I also feel immense responsibility and a sense of despair as this has led to distrust in the election process."
He added, "There is no excuse for an incident that violated the public's precious right to vote, something that should never have happened. We will establish a Truth and Reconciliation Commission made up of outside experts to identify the root causes, problems, and response process, and to prepare measures to prevent a recurrence. We will disclose all findings in detail."
He also said, in response to calls from both ruling and opposition parties for a parliamentary Investigation of State Administration and a Special Prosecutor, "We will faithfully take part in all procedures, including a National Assembly-led Investigation of State Administration, to determine the NEC's responsibility for this incident. If there is anything we must take responsibility for based on the results, we will never evade it."
Both ruling and opposition parties raised questions over the NEC's responsibility for the ballot shortage. The opposition, in particular, called not only for an Investigation of State Administration and a Special Prosecutor, but also for impeachment motions against all NEC commissioners and lawsuits to invalidate the election. Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, also skipped the National Assembly plenary session for the election of the parliamentary leadership and the lawmakers' oath-taking ceremony that day, instead visiting the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission and the NEC to protest.
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uknow@fnnews.com Kim Yun-ho Reporter