[6.3 election ③] Scandal that four-fifths of Koreans are demanding a special counsel

log date: 2026-6-26

On June 21, 2026, Koreans residing in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, gathered in front of the Vancouver Arts Centre to hold a rally. Overseas Koreans also express their concerns that democracy is collapsing as the recent Korean election has been conducted in chaos due to corruption within the South Korean National Election Commission. Photo courtesy of a social media user.

Dong-hyeok Jahng (장동혁), the leader of the main opposition People Power Party,
held a press conference on June 24, 2026.

“Our election law contains a provision stating that if there is an objection regarding the validity of an election for local council members, local government heads, or superintendents of education, the political party that nominated the candidates or the candidate themselves may file an appeal within 14 days from the date of the determination of the winner. Such election appeal procedures are currently underway.

As the National Assembly is currently investigating allegations of misconduct by the National Election Commission in past elections, public opinion polls show that more than 80% of South Koreans are calling for a special prosecutor’s investigation.

Our party, holding 110 seats, is the opposition party with the second-largest number of seats in the National Assembly, and we have been entrusted with the mission of forming a special prosecution team and leading a re-election.

Politicians who argue that we should not even mention a re-election on the grounds that there are no applicable provisions in current laws are engaging in irresponsible politics," said lawmaker Jahng.

"Given that such a serious infringement on suffrage has occurred, we must not be satisfied with merely proceeding with appeal procedures. If current laws do not contain provisions for a re-election, a special act must be enacted. If we sit idly by without taking any action simply because there is no law, what is the reason for the existence of the National Assembly and its members?"

Dong-hyeok Jahng, the leader of the main opposition party,
exhorted his fellow lawmakers to take action in an interview held on June 26, 2026.

I believe that lawmakers who have failed to faithfully legislate re-election regulations so far must take responsibility, first enact a special legislation to hold re-elections, and then rectify the electoral system by amending the election law based on the experience of holding re-elections under such a special legislation.

Even if not explicitly stipulated in current law, the infringement of suffrage is a clear violation of the Constitution, and the situation in which voters were unable to cast their ballots due to a shortage of ballot papers should never have occurred. Therefore, the majority of the Korean people are demanding a re-election.

The demands currently being shouted by Koreans at rallies held across the country including at the Jamsil Olympic Park, appear to be the only way to restore democracy in South Korea. It is to hold the June 3 local elections again and to count ballots by hand immediately after voting ends at the polling stations.

The Korean people must reclaim the image of a trustworthy nation from about 20 years ago, a time when democracy was cherished.

Voters calling for re-election at the Jamsil Olympic Park, South Korea.
Provided by Yonhap News.

“Politics is about creating a path where there is none. If there is a law that prevents us from doing what ought to be done, we must do so even if it means enacting a special legislation. If the people's right to vote has been violated, all politicians—whether elected or defeated, and regardless of their political party affiliation—must step forward to call for a re-election," said Jahng.

Lawmaker Jahng added, "I'm willing to stake everything on pushing through a special prosecutor investigation and a re-election, and I would devote myself to reforming the electoral system. Only when our party members and the public raise their voices together will the ruling Democratic Party also join in."

Dong-hyeok Jahng (장동혁), the leader of the main opposition People Power Party (국민의힘), exhorted his fellow lawmakers and Korean voters in a press conference on June 24 and an interview on June 26. Many young Koreans calling for a re-election and election law reform in the squares and streets agree with his opinion, and so do I.

On June 21, 2026, Koreans residing in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, gathered in front of the Vancouver Arts Centre to hold a rally. Overseas Koreans also express their concerns that democracy is collapsing as the recent Korean election has been conducted in chaos due to corruption within the South Korean National Election Commission. Photo courtesy of a social media user.