South Korea's election probe stalls as parties split over whether to recount 2.48 million ballots or pursue a special counsel. The committee meets Wednesday.
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Seoul's May local elections have produced a bitter dispute that may determine how – or whether – the country gets answers about what happened to 2.48 million ballots.
The National Assembly's special investigation committee, charged with looking into a ballot shortage during the June 3 vote, is split over the next step. At issue: whether to publicly recount the ballots stored at the Olympic Park counting center in Seoul's Songpa District, or first pursue legislation authorizing a special counsel to assign blame.
The ruling Democratic Party wants the recount to begin immediately. The opposition People Power Party says lawmakers should prioritize the special counsel legislation.
Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, the People Power Party lawmaker who chairs the committee, has proposed doing both at once.
"A recount and a special counsel investigation are not alternatives," Yoon wrote on Facebook. "A public recount is a process for verifying the facts before the people, while a special counsel investigation is a process for determining responsibility in accordance with the law and principles."
Yoon said one could not replace the other. "Transparent verification and a thorough investigation must proceed together," he said.
Other members of his party disagree. Rep. Choi Bo-yoon told reporters that lawmakers had not settled on the legal procedure for a recount.
"We have to question whether it is appropriate to set the recount schedule first under these circumstances," Choi said. She wants the special counsel discussion to move fast enough to pass the legislation.
The Democratic Party argues that an open manual count should happen first to resolve the questions around the ballot shortage. Floor leader Han Byung-do said his party had proposed an immediate public recount and manual count to ensure "no doubts remained."
"The People Power Party, which had demanded a recount, has now changed its position and says a special counsel investigation must come first," Han said during a party policy meeting at the National Assembly.
Rep. Seo Beom-su, the committee's opposition secretary, is reportedly exploring a compromise.
The committee is scheduled to hold its second hearing Wednesday, where it will discuss whether to proceed with a recount and what verification methods to use.
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