Opposition Criticizes Election Commission's Refusal of Audit on Favoritism in Hiring of Children, Demands "No Tae-ak Resign"

Kim Ki-hyun CEO Photo by Yonhap News

On the 4th, the People Power Party repeatedly urged the voluntary resignation of No Tae-ak, Chairman of the National Election Commission (NEC), over the NEC's refusal to undergo an audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection regarding allegations of preferential hiring for children of high-ranking officials.

Kim Gi-hyeon, the party leader, held an emergency Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly that day and likened the NEC's slogan, "Beautiful Elections, Happy Republic of Korea," to "beautiful inheritance, enjoying happy employment inheritance," stating, "I hope Chairman No will no longer show a shameful appearance and demonstrate responsibility through resignation."

He added, "With corruption stinking from the top ranks, an organization that still insists on a closed attitude by locking the doors and ignoring the demands of the people can no longer be called an institution of a democratic country."

He also claimed, "There have been many cases where the NEC made biased interpretations favoring the Democratic Party during major elections," and "this is the reason why high-ranking officials at the NEC could so fearlessly and boldly commit employment inheritance."

Yoon Jae-ok, the floor leader, said, "So far, there have already been 11 cases of preferential hiring allegations involving children of high-ranking and senior officials. We do not know how many more will come out once a full investigation is conducted," adding, "The criticism that this is a den of corruption is not exaggerated at all." Park Dae-chul, the Policy Committee Chairman, criticized on social media, saying, "Dad chance, older brother chance, inheritance of workplaces, even personal information leaks?various allegations emerge almost daily," and "there are even remarks calling it the Family Election Commission rather than the Central Election Commission."

Criticism also continued over the NEC's refusal to undergo the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit on the grounds of "constitutional custom."

Yoon, the floor leader, said, "It is no different from declaring war on the people," and called it "organizational selfishness that only protects its own organization." Kim, the party leader, criticized, "The Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission's investigation, which lacks compulsory investigative authority, cannot broadly uncover the truth of corruption to eradicate its roots. Investigations limited to the facts of the accused in complaints and accusations are the same," and said, "(The refusal of the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit) is an attitude of roughly trying to endure."