Cho Hyun-wook, chairperson of a fact-finding committee of the National Election Commission, speaks during a briefing at NEC headquarters in Gwacheon on Friday. Photo by Yonahp
The National Election Commission's (NEC) fact-finding committee investigating ballot shortages during the recent local elections called for a criminal probe into the commission's former chief Friday, citing systemic failures in the election management system.
Cho Hyun-wook, chairperson of the committee, made the announcement during a briefing at the NEC headquarters in Gwacheon, south of Seoul, as the panel wrapped up a weeklong investigation conducted to determine the cause of the ballot shortages.
The committee recommended that former NEC Chairman Roh Tae-ak, who stepped down from his post over the debacle, and other key officials be referred for criminal investigation.
Cho also stressed that the NEC requires a sweeping overhaul tantamount to dismantling the organization.
