1 of 2 | South Korean lawmakers vote Thursday at the National Assembly in Seoul to approve legislation appointing an independent counsel to investigate ballot shortages and other alleged voting-rights violations during the June 3 local elections. The bill passed 226-2, with 228 lawmakers participating. Photo by Asia Today
July 30 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's ruling and main opposition parties reached an agreement Thursday on legislation appointing an independent counsel to investigate ballot shortages and other alleged election-management failures during the June 3 local elections.
The parties also agreed to extend a parliamentary investigation into the National Election Commission by 30 days to allow additional examination of ballots and voting procedures, including those at a polling station in Seoul's Olympic Park.
Democratic Party floor leader Han Byung-do and People Power Party floor leader Chung Jeom-sig reached the agreement during a meeting at the National Assembly with the parties' senior deputy floor leaders.
The legislation will be formally titled the Act on the Appointment of an Independent Counsel to Investigate Suspected Violations of Voting Rights, Including the Ballot Shortage During the Ninth Nationwide Local Elections.
