Jang Dong-hyeok of the People Power Party said on the 30th that the scope of the "June 3 local election ballot shortage special counsel act," which passed the National Assembly's plenary session, allows "any investigation as long as the statute of limitations remains."
At a news conference at the National Assembly after the act passed, Jang said, "Article 2, item 10 was the provision of the special counsel act that we considered most important in negotiating the scope of the investigation and that remained a sticking point until the very end."
Article 2, item 10 of the act designates as an investigative subject the "suspicions of poor management, reinforcement, and operation of the National Election Commission's election management system."
Jang noted, "Because the election was not limited to the 9th local elections, this general election and presidential election—and, if necessary, any prior local, general, or presidential elections—can be included as investigation targets," adding, "The election management system means all of those systems, including the IT system, the ballot counting management system, and the voter registry."
He continued, "Because security is specified, I believe investigating suspicions such as whether the server was hacked is naturally possible," explaining, "There was a difference of opinion between the ruling and opposition parties up to the final negotiations over item 10 of Article 2."
He added, "What remains now is to properly recommend and appoint the special counsel," and "Because a full-spectrum investigation is possible, the special counsel's will and ability to investigate will ultimately be the issue."
On the method of recommending the special counsel through the public recommendation committee, he said, "If even one of the three public recommendation Commissioners recommended by the People Power Party objects, a special counsel cannot be recommended," adding, "A People Power Party recommendation Commissioner will surely oppose any candidate biased to one side."
He also said, "The recommendation of a special counsel will not proceed until an objective and neutral candidate is recommended."
Jang visited Olympic Park in Songpa District, Seoul, where a ballot-counting station blockade protest is underway, and celebrated the act's passage with supporters on site.
About a dozen others, including Secretary-General Chung Hee-yong and lawmakers Cho Bae-sook, Park Dae-chul, Joo Jin-woo, Kim Tae-gyu, Park Chung-kwon, Lee Jin-sook, Seo Cheon-ho, Kang Myeong-gu, Cho Seung-hwan, and Choi Su-jin, also joined.
Holding a loudspeaker, Jang said, "The June 3 citizens' revolution that began on June 3 has finally won. It is thanks to your strength in guarding Ol-gong (Olympic Park) 24 hours a day without missing a single day," and, "The special counsel act that can investigate all suspicions has passed."
He added, "We will move forward until we abolish early voting and reform the election system," and, "Join forces so that a proper special counsel can be appointed. The roar of Ol-gong on Aug. 15 will bring about the appointment of the special counsel."