[Inside Chodong] The Election Commission: What Matters Most Is the Road Ahead

Excluded from Audit Supervision by the Board of Audit and Inspection
Internal Control Deficiencies and Loss of Trust
Need for Parliamentary Discussion and External Oversight

"The election commission's hiring corruption has been fully exposed. How to correct the commission's flawed hiring practices is considered even more important moving forward."

Shortly after the Constitutional Court ruled that the election commission is not subject to the Board of Audit and Inspection's (BAI) job supervision, a BAI official spoke in a serious tone. While respecting the Constitutional Court's decision, the official emphasized that establishing a system to rein in the commission's behavior, which has effectively lost its self-purification function, is an urgent priority. Some of the commission's hiring corruption has already been revealed through investigations, and with the recent audit results adding further exposure, the reality has been laid bare. It is important to use this opportunity to gather wisdom on how to improve the system going forward.

In response to mounting public criticism, the election commission issued an apology five days after the audit results were announced, on the 4th. However, public outrage has not easily subsided. It was confirmed that even after the audit disclosure, 10 individuals who benefited from 'preferential hiring' are still working normally.

The relative deprivation felt by the 20s and 30s generation, already suffering from a tightening job market, is even greater. Upon learning of cases where children of high-ranking officials were hired through various illegal and irregular means, the 20s and 30s generation cannot help but feel deep anger toward the commission's conduct. This is because the commission, which should prioritize fairness and trust, was revealed to be a sanctuary beyond the reach of audits. In particular, the commission is known as one of the 'godly workplaces' where promotions are faster and tenure longer than those of regular civil servants.

The commission has belatedly stated that it will participate in discussions in the National Assembly to establish control measures and is considering internal reform plans such as forming a temporary special committee. However, from the public's perspective, this is unconvincing. A temporary special committee is, by definition, a provisional body within the commission, and even if some external members participate, there is skepticism about whether the already distrusted commission can conduct a proper internal audit.

A BAI official pointed out, "Without external oversight, things tend to become lax," adding, "Even if faults are revealed, they are not remedied, and it becomes a case of 'protecting one's own'." Another official said, "Although the commission conducted its own audit, circumstances suggesting attempts to conceal various corruptions were uncovered, leading the BAI to find more issues," and stressed, "Discussions in the National Assembly must take place to resolve the problem."

The Constitutional Court's basis for ruling that the election commission is not subject to BAI job supervision is that if the BAI, an agency under the president, were to audit the commission, presidential influence would extend to the commission through the BAI, which contradicts the commission's founding purpose. Amid heated discussions on constitutional amendments, the idea of separating the BAI from presidential control and establishing it as an independent constitutional body is also being considered.

The commission's internal control deficiencies are not limited to hiring. It is an open secret that many employees take leave to avoid busy work during election seasons. To fill the work gaps caused by pre-election leaves, the commission hires experienced personnel, and preferential hiring has occurred extensively in this process. Although 'election season leaves' have been problematic multiple times, the commission remains indifferent, saying, "We cannot prevent employees with circumstances from taking leave."

Depending on the outcome of President Yoon Seok-yeol's Constitutional Court impeachment trial, a presidential election may be held in May. With restoring public trust after hiring corruption becoming the commission's top priority, it remains to be seen whether the commission can present proper improvement measures ahead of its core task, the election, this year. This is something to watch closely.