Han Byung-do says, "People are asking whether the NEC is still worth having"... "We will consider a constitutional revision"

[Financial News] Han Byung-do, floor leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 16th that he would even consider revising the Constitution to address the National Election Commission's poor handling of the shortage of ballots.
At the floor strategy meeting held that day at The National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, Han said, "People are now asking whether the NEC, as a constitutionally independent body, still has any reason to exist in its current form." He added, "The Democratic Party of Korea will not let this pass lightly. We plan to review, from multiple angles, ways to improve the election management system and the need for a constitutional revision."
He added, "At the plenary session on the 18th, we will immediately approve the plan for a parliamentary investigation into the ballot shortage and allow the special committee to begin its work right away."
Han also criticized the election petition card pushed by Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party. He argued that Jang was not focusing on uncovering the truth behind the ballot shortage and was instead repeating conspiracy theories.
He said, "Yesterday, on the 15th, Jang finally brought out the card for a full rerun petition in six regions: Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, Busan, Ulsan Metropolitan City, and South Jeolla Province (Jeonnam)." He added, "What is even more absurd is that he did not ask a single question to Oh Se-hoon, the elected Seoul Metropolitan City Mayor, about the petition. He is saying the election should be invalidated without hearing from the person involved."
He continued, "Only some polling stations ran short of ballots, yet they are trying to invalidate even the legitimate votes of all citizens." He called that "an act of self-contradiction, trampling on the very voting rights of the people that they claimed to defend."
He also said, "Jang is endlessly repeating conspiracy theories as if holding an Indian rainmaking ritual at Jamsil Olympic Park." He added, "Even statisticians have said that suspicions of manipulation are not reasonable, yet Jang shouted that twin vote counts were 'something that would never happen until the earth comes to an end.'"
He further criticized Jang, saying, "Jamsil, which he visits every day claiming it gives him strength, has become a lawless zone. Police officers are being subjected to insults and complaints, and there have been assaults on handball players and reporters. Now even claims of Chinese interference have surfaced there." He added, "From election fraud to twin vote counts and now foreign interference, it is truly a 'conspiracy theory department store.'"
 
gowell@fnnews.com Kim Hyeong-gu Reporter