The National Election Commission decided not to file a criminal complaint in line with the fact-finding committee's recommendation to request an investigation into those responsible for the June 3 local election ballot shortage, and instead to submit related materials to the joint police-prosecution investigation headquarters.
Acting Secretary-General Kang Dong-wan of the National Election Commission said this at the full meeting of the National Assembly's Special Committee on the State Investigation into the June 3 local election ballot shortage on the 23rd, responding to a question from People Power Party lawmaker Seo Beom-soo: "At the full commission meeting the previous day, the standing Commissioner (Acting Chairperson Wi Cheol-hwan of the National Election Commission) and I were the subjects of the (investigation request) recommendation, so there was discussion among the Commissioners while both of us were out," and stated accordingly.
When lawmaker Seo repeatedly asked, "Why are you not requesting an investigation?", Acting Chair Kang replied, "On that part, neither the standing Commissioner nor I can know the details."
In response, lawmaker Seo criticized Acting Chair Wi, calling it a "self-exemption," and said, "All the more reason this should be handled more sternly. This is why we are telling you to resign."
Seo said, "Because the person responsible is hanging on, the secretariat is reading the room," adding, "I believed someone less responsible, someone a bit freer, should newly wrap this up, so I told you to decide your course by the second agency hearing of the special committee on July 1." Seo warned that if there is no decision on the course by the second agency hearing, the People Power Party would consider introducing an impeachment motion against Acting Chair Wi.
The fact-finding committee on the ballot shortage recommended on the 19th that 12 members of the election commission leadership be referred for investigation. The recommendation list included Acting Chair Wi and Acting Secretary-General Kang, as well as former Chairperson Roh Tae-ak, former Secretary-General Hur Chul-hoon, and former Election Policy Director Yoon Jae-su.