Parties push for constitutional reform of election agency

“Korea's two major parties are both pushing for the reform of the National Election Commission (NEC) following widespread backlash over ballot shortages in the June 3 local elections. Although there is general consensus among the public for an overhaul of the agency, the move faces challenges as the rival parties differ on how to reform it, with any change to the independent body requiring a constitutional amendment, which would need to pass in a national referendum. The shortages, which led to the suspension of voting at dozens of polling stations, drew fierce criticism for infringing on voting rights. The incident exposed a broader accountability gap. While constitutional protections were designed to guarantee the NEC's independence, Constitutional Court rulings blocking external audits have instead left the watchdog operating with a lack of oversight, fostering a culture of lax internal management. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) put emphasis on ramping up external checks and balances as well as boosting the watchdog's expertise by overhauling the current system. Rep. Lee Ju-

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