Rival parties spar over timing of ballot recount over ballot shortage in local elections

The ruling and opposition parties clashed Wednesday over when a public recount of ballots should be conducted in connection with ballot shortages reported during the June 3 local elections.

During the second hearing of a special parliamentary committee investigating the incident, the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) called for an immediate recount before the committee wraps up its probe to help determine whether the ballots had been properly handled, while lawmakers of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) argued that it should be conducted after a proposed special counsel completes its investigation.

Wednesday's hearing came a day after the rival parties reached an agreement to pass a special counsel bill within the month to investigate the ballot shortages.

"As the people gathered at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium are claiming election fraud, we should verify the results through a recount," DPK Rep.

Lee Hae-sik said.

"It was PPP lawmakers who initially proposed the recount, but it appears that their party leader has changed his mind." The special parliamentary committ ...