The NEC's political neutrality in question

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The NEC's political neutrality in question

The National Election Commission (NEC) is under an unprecedented crisis. Its chief Park Chan-jin, NEC secretary general of ministerial rank, and his deputy Song Bong-seop of vice-ministerial rank, resigned simultaneously last Thursday over nepotism implications. Their synchronous exit leaves the top seats vacant at the body overseeing the election process with less than a year left before the parliamentary election next April. 
 
The JoongAng Ilbo earlier this month raised suspicion about the coincidence of their daughters working in the regional offices of the election watchdog. 
 
The daughters of Park and Song had each worked as civil servants at a district office in Gwangju and Boryeong, South Chungcheong. They were hired by the election commission office in South Jeolla and Danyang, North Chungcheong last year. Both of them argue they had no help from their fathers.
 
The former secretary general of the NEC also resigned due to the suspicious recruitment of his son last year. The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) has launched a special probe that includes outside inspectors. At the same time, it is carrying out extensive investigations involving all government employees of grade five or higher rank. 
 
Wrongdoings must be uncovered through thorough investigation and then followed by rigorous self-remedial actions. 
 
The NEC is stated as an independent body by the Constitution. But the irregular hiring allegations and other controversies related to the NEC raise questions about the integrity of the body when free from supervision and regulation. 
 
Despite the disclosure of the shameful handling of ballots after the presidential election in March last year, the NEC defied an investigation from the BAI citing its right as an independent body. It also shunned the advice from the National Intelligence Service to examine its security system against the danger of North Korean hacking on the same grounds. It has been building walls around itself and gathering corruption as a result.  
 
Its political neutrality has been in question. The independent status has often been abused to damage neutrality. Of the nine commissioners, three are appointed by the president, three by the National Assembly, and three by the chief justice of the Supreme Court. 
 
But the political climate has influenced the composition of the members and its neutrality. 
 
Career bureaucrats at the NEC are also not free from political influence. Former president Moon Jae-in caused serious harm to the NEC's neutrality by appointing his special advisor during campaigning as a standing commissioner. 
 
The NEC banned the opposition party and civil groups from posting banners critical of former Seoul mayor Park Won-soon who committed suicide over a sexual harassment allegation during the campaigning for a by-election to pick his successor in 2021.  
 
Elections are the core of democracy. The damage in cleanness, credibility, and fairness of the organization overseeing elections can shake the foundation of a nation. 
 
The NEC as well as politicians and scholars must rigorously deliberate on reform measures including legal amendments through the momentum of the latest disaster. 
 
There is a suggestion that the chief should be recruited from outside instead of keeping up the over 30-year legacy of promoting a figure from within. 
 
A fundamental solution must be sought to restore public confidence in the election committee.  
 
 
 
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