The ruling and opposition parties held a plenary session at the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 18th and approved a plan for a parliamentary investigation to uncover violations of citizens' suffrage related to the ballot paper shortage during the 9th nationwide local elections and to reform election management. Thirty noncontentious bills and the 2025 audit report were also passed.
The special committee for the parliamentary investigation passed that day was promoted by agreement between the ruling and opposition parties, and its main purpose is to identify problems across election administration, including the response of the election commission, in connection with the ballot paper shortage that occurred during the 9th nationwide local elections held on June 3.
In line with the parties' agreement, the special committee was formed with 18 members: nine from the Democratic Party of Korea, seven from the People Power Party, and two from nonnegotiating groups. The committee begins the investigation the same day, running for a total of 45 days until Aug. 1. Those surveyed are limited to the National Election Commission and local election commissions at each level.
Yoon Sang-hyun of the People Power Party, who serves as the Chairperson of the special committee, emphasized that "this parliamentary investigation aims to thoroughly determine the causes of the unprecedented ballot paper shortage during the 9th nationwide local elections held on June 3 and the complacent response of the election commission."
Yoon added, "Through a fact-finding probe, we will clarify where responsibility lies and prepare transparent election management measures so that citizens' suffrage can be fully guaranteed."