[뉴스센터] 잠실7동 투표함 개표 진행 중…항의 시위 계속 / 연합뉴스TV (YonhapnewsTV)

[Guests: Political Commentator Seo Yang-ho · Former Blue House Spokesperson Jeong Yeon-guk] The ballot boxes from Jamsil 7-dong, Seoul, which had been blocked from being removed, were moved to the counting station following the deployment of police. Once the vote counting is complete, the winners will be determined, and the counting for the June 3 local elections in the Seoul region will officially conclude. However, the fallout is expected to continue. We will examine the details with political commentator Seo Yang-ho and former Blue House Spokesperson Jeong Yeon-guk. [Question 1] Two ballot boxes remaining at Polling Station No. 2 in Jamsil 7-dong, Songpa-gu, due to a "ballot shortage" during the June 3 local elections, were removed and moved to the counting station. The police deployed riot police to disperse the protesters and entered the polling station to secure the ballot boxes; how did you view this process? [Question 2] The two removed ballot boxes were immediately moved to the counting station in Songpa-gu. Once the vote counting is complete, the election of several candidates within Seoul, including Mayor Oh Se-hoon, will be legally confirmed. Do you expect there will be any backlash regarding the procedures and the results? [Question 2-1] NEC Chairman Roh Tae-ak is scheduled to issue a public apology at 4 p.m. today. Will there be a specific explanation as to why this situation occurred? [Question 3] The ballot paper shortage incident literally occurred because the NEC did not prepare a sufficient supply of ballots. The NEC stated that it applied internal standards allowing for the printing of ballots for the main election to be reduced to 50% of the total number of voters, taking into account that local elections typically have lower turnout than presidential elections and also considering early voting rates. How did you perceive this explanation? [Question 4] The NEC announced that it will form a fact-finding committee composed of external experts to investigate this incident and disclose the investigation results to the public. Meanwhile, the police, having received a complaint from a civic group, have assigned the case to the Metropolitan Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and have begun a full-scale investigation. A constitutional complaint filed by an ordinary citizen claiming that their right to vote was violated has also been received by the Constitutional Court. How do you view the situation where the pursuit of legal accountability against the National Election Commission (NEC) is expanding across the board? [Question 5] Both ruling and opposition parties have called for the resignation of the NEC Secretary General and others, stating they will hold the Commission accountable. The People Power Party has even argued that the NEC should be disbanded, claiming it has lost its function as a state agency. Meanwhile, there is also talk of a parliamentary investigation and a special prosecutor. [Question 6] Let's look at the situation of the ruling and opposition parties following this election. As the Democratic Party failed to reclaim the Seoul mayoral election—the biggest battleground—despite achieving a nationwide victory, the "Jeong Cheong-rae responsibility theory" is rearing its head within the party. To what extent will this affect the path to a consecutive term as party leader? [Question 7] Former Representative Song Young-gil, who won the Incheon Yeonsu-gap by-election and became the party's longest-serving six-term representative, mentioned the issue of accountability targeting Representative Jeong Cheong-rae. There are predictions that Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, considered a contender for the party leadership, will soon tender his resignation and make a full-scale entry into the race. How do you foresee the Democratic Party’s national convention scheduled for August? [Question 8] The cracks in the ruling party’s landslide victory in this election were caused by Mayor Oh Se-hoon, who has been at odds with Party Leader Jang Dong-hyuk, as well as elected officials Han Dong-hoon and Yoo Ui-dong. Consequently, calls for Chairman Jang to take responsibility are emerging. However, Chairman Jang has indicated he has no intention of stepping down, stating, "I will find a new path forward with the party members." Will he choose to hold out? [Question 9] The potential reinstatement of Han Dong-hoon, who won his first badge as an independent in the Busan Buk-gu Gap by-election, is also expected to become a flashpoint within the People Power Party. According to the party's regulations, if a member applies for reinstatement after being expelled, they must obtain approval from the Supreme Council. What are your predictions? ▣ Subscribe to Yonhap News TV's documentary channel 'Docu-Digging'    / @docu-digging   ▣ Subscribe to Yonhap News TV YouTube Channel    / @yonhapnewstv23   ▣ The Beginning of Korean News, ...