The National Election Commission (NEC) proceeded with an international program introducing Korea's electoral system to foreign election officials, even as an unprecedented "ballot shortage" unfolded during the June 3 local elections, it has been confirmed. Critics say the election delay, unparalleled worldwide, was laid bare before the visiting foreign officials, amounting to an "international embarrassment."
According to reporting compiled by The Seoul Economic Daily on Wednesday, the NEC hosted election commission officials from 11 countries for an "International Election Observation Program" during the 9th nationwide local elections held on June 3. The program has been operated since 2014 to share Korea's election management techniques with the world, drawing on the country's experience in electoral and political development. This year, 31 election officials from 11 countries, including Nigeria and Ecuador, visited Korea from May 30 to June 4.
The problem is that the program continued even on the main voting day, when the ballot shortage threw the entire nation into disarray. The foreign election officials directly visited polling and counting sites to observe the election procedures and operations. An NEC official said, "The (ballot shortage) occurred near the end of the event, and since almost no one could speak Korean and the event itself was conducted in English, most likely were unaware of the situation," adding, "Satisfaction with the overall program operation was relatively high." However, it was reported that during a discussion session at the closing stage of the schedule, some foreign election officials questioned the NEC about the ballot shortage.
Earlier, in its "2026 Budget Project Explanatory Materials" prepared in January this year, the NEC stated that it would spend 419 million won on the project to share Korea's electoral system overseas. The NEC pays for participants' airfare, lodging, and meal costs. For this year's program, the NEC planned to spend 204 million won on airfare and lodging, and 7 million won on luncheons and dinners. An NEC official said, "Besides Korea, many countries operate election observation programs," adding, "In many cases, the host country covers part of the costs for participants to attend."
It can also be interpreted that halting an event already underway would have been difficult. However, the NEC appears unable to avoid criticism that, by displaying inadequacy in election management—its very reason for existence—it ultimately spent 400 million won in taxpayer money and embarrassed the nation. In particular, former NEC Chairman Roh Tae-ak, who recently stepped down to take responsibility, said in his opening address at this year's program, "I hope the electoral administration assets that the Republic of Korea has built will provide a substantial contribution to solidifying the foundations of democracy in each country." This stands in contrast to the criticism over the ballot shortage that "the foundation of democracy has been shaken."
Cha Jin-a, a professor at Korea University Law School, stressed, "The NEC is an independent constitutional body whose core function is election management, but it has degenerated into an incompetent and lazy institution," adding, "A fundamental solution through organizational restructuring is needed, such as increasing the number of standing commissioners, currently just one, to three."
