South Korea: the PPP Countered That a Recount Before the Special Counsel Begins Could Contaminate Evidence

South Korea's ruling and opposition parties clashed again on Tuesday over the schedule for a public recount of 2.47 million ballots stored at Olympic Park, during the third hearing of the parliamentary special committee investigating the June 3 local elections ballot shortage. The Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) insisted the recount proceed on July 18 as tentatively agreed last month, while the People Power Party (PPP) argued it should wait until a special counsel probe into the National Election Commission is launched. DPK lawmaker Yoon Kun-young, the ruling party's secretary, said the committee's 30-day extension was specifically to conduct the recount, adding, "We must verify what needs verifying and correct what is wrong.

Cho Kuk Innovation Party lawmaker Jung Choon-saeng accused the PPP of irresponsibility for appearing unwilling to recount. The PPP countered that a recount before the special counsel begins could contaminate evidence. "If the special counsel is launched, the ballot boxes could become investigation targets, said PPP lawmaker Seo Beom-soo.