Acting Chairperson Wi Cheol-hwan of the National Election Commission criticized demands for a rerun of the June 3 local elections as "truly an irresponsible claim," then withdrew the remark and apologized.

Appearing that day at the National Assembly's full meeting of the "special committee on a parliamentary investigation into the shortage of ballot papers in the June 3 local elections," the acting chairperson answered a question from Reform Party lawmaker Lee Jun-seok about the possibility of a rerun, saying, "At least in politics right now, no one should be calling for a rerun."

Acting National Election Commissioner Chair Wi Cheol-hwan delivers a briefing at a full meeting of the National Assembly's special committee for a parliamentary inquiry into alleged violations of citizens' suffrage, including ballot paper shortages, and election management reform on the 23rd at the National Assembly. /Courtesy of Yonhap News Agency

Wi said, "Ordinary civic groups or the public can make such claims in the yard or in the square," adding, "With the count completed and the winners fully announced, simply calling for a rerun is truly an irresponsible claim." He went on, "Holding a rerun without a court ruling would, at present, require nothing short of a massive revolution that overturns all existing procedures by the will of the people and starts anew, and I assert there is no other way."

When Special Committee Chairperson Yoon Sang-hyun of the People Power Party pointed out that it was "an overly strong remark," the acting chairperson said, "If you misunderstood, I apologize," but added, "Holding a rerun without legal grounds has no basis. I understand that (in Germany) Berlin also held a rerun after two years of litigation."

Later, the acting chairperson said, "I made remarks about the rerun that could cause misunderstanding," and added, "In discussing legal procedures and such, some expressions were excessive, and I am sorry," requesting that the remarks be deleted from the transcript. In response, Special Committee Chairperson Yoon Sang-hyun of the People Power Party said, "We will treat the remarks as withdrawn," and the acting chairperson replied, "Yes."

Meanwhile, regarding People Power Party lawmakers' claims that he is President Lee Jae-myung's "meal buddy," the acting chairperson said, "I am not the president's meal buddy at all," adding, "The president is the same age as my third younger sibling." He also said, "Even when several lawmakers said things that were not true in public, I held back with a mind to apologize to the public," and added, "The expression 'meal buddy' is not true." The acting chairperson is a Judicial Research and Training Institute classmate of President Lee.

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