Pressure on Noh Tae-ak, Election Commission Chair, to Resign Voluntarily
Criticism Arises Over Election Commission Chair Selection Practices
On the 7th, the People Power Party visited the Central Election Commission to urge acceptance of the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit.
Lee Man-hee, a member of the ruling party and the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, made a second protest visit to the Election Commission located in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province on the same day. The People Power Party had also visited the Election Commission on the 23rd of last month to demand a prosecution investigation into preferential hiring of high-ranking officials' children and to call for measures related to North Korean hacking attacks.
During a meeting with Kim Pil-gon, a standing member of the Election Commission, and Kim Moon-bae, the Election Commission's Chief Secretary, Lee said, "To prepare proper alternatives, understanding the symptoms of the current situation must come first," adding, "As part of that, I repeatedly expressed the opinion that it would be good to accept the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit."
Kim Pil-gon, Standing Commissioner of the Central Election Commission, and other election commission officials sat down with Lee Man-hee, the senior member of the People Power Party on the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, and ruling party lawmakers who visited the Gwacheon Election Commission in Gyeonggi on the 7th to protest allegations of 'preferential hiring,' listening to Lee Man-hee's remarks. (Photo by Yonhap News)
Lee continued, "In situations like 'Dad Chance,' 'Brother Chance,' and 'Self-Approval,' it is problematic that the Election Commission still audits only based on the materials submitted by themselves and instructs investigations only on those targets they accuse. Such an attitude is neither a basic stance for problem-solving nor anything but arrogant and dogmatic," emphasizing, "It is right to accept an objective and professional audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection even now."
He also pressured Chairman Noh Tae-ak to voluntarily resign. Lee said, "Have you seen the public opinion polls about Chairman Noh?" explaining, "More than 70% of the public believe the chairman's conduct is improper and recognize that he is responsible for the current situation, agreeing with his resignation."
Park Sung-min, a People Power Party member who accompanied him that day, pointed at the Election Commission, saying, "Just because it is a constitutional institution does not mean it is above the people," and added, "The more constitutional and independent an institution is, the more truthful and honest it must be before the people. Refusing to accept the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit despite problems only exacerbates the issues."
Kim Yong-pan, another member of the same party, criticized the practice of electing the Election Commission chairman. Kim said, "The Election Commission must be thoroughly reformed," and questioned, "Is it appropriate for a Supreme Court justice to serve as a part-time Election Commission chairman? Is it suitable for maintaining the neutrality of the Election Commission?" He added, "While claiming to be an independent institution, having a Supreme Court justice as the election chairman means it is subordinate to the judiciary."
Cho Myung-hee, the People Power Party's deputy floor leader, said, "Now that trust in the Election Commission has disappeared, doubts arise about whether the Election Commission's answers are correct and fair," and expressed hope, "I wish the Election Commission would quickly undergo an audit, innovate, and either resign or transform into an organization that earns trust and respect."
In response, Kim Pil-gon, a standing member of the Election Commission, said, "As a standing member, I deeply apologize with a repentant heart for causing repeated difficult visits."
However, he emphasized, "I fully recognize that it is right to use all possible methods to identify causes and hold people accountable, and to thoroughly resolve public suspicions to become a true national institution again as a painful turning point," but added, "Since I am only one of the nine standing members, there are limits to providing responsible answers representing or acting on behalf of the committee."
Meanwhile, it is known that the Election Commission is considering the acceptance of the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit at the committee level. After meeting with the Election Commission members, Lee told reporters, "(Standing member Kim) said that the committee is considering the acceptance of the Board of Audit and Inspection's audit and that they would convey the lawmakers' demands to the committee."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
