Lee Jun-seok, leader of the Reform Party, called Wednesday for a special counsel investigation into the ballot paper shortage during the June 3 local elections, arguing that his party should hold the right to nominate the counsel.
At a press conference at the National Assembly, Lee said, "To root out the National Election Commission's poor management and to judicially confirm the falsehood of the conspiracy theories, the Reform Party will nominate the special counsel." He added, "Is there a more suitable nominator than a party that has fought conspiracy theories for seven years, a party that has no reason to curry favor with power?"
He also urged the ruling party to accept the special counsel bill. "The Democratic Party says it cannot accept the special counsel bill because it contains conspiracy theories, but it's the opposite. Precisely because conspiracy theories are mixed in, the special counsel must be accepted," he stressed. "Election fraud conspiracy theories must be put to rest as an official record of the state."
As a measure to ensure the fairness of the special counsel, he proposed including the camp that has claimed election fraud. Lee said, "Nominees recommended by Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty and Innovation Party, should also participate in the investigation team, provided there are no disqualifying grounds." He added, "Only then can we raise the fairness of the outcome and the likelihood that the results will be accepted."
