Han Dong-hoon Criticizes National Election Commission, Calls for Voting Reforms

Former Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon publicly lambasted the National Election Commission (NEC) for allegedly having unofficial communications with politicians. This raises the issue of the integrity and transparency of elections. To that end, he proposed a series of reforms related to the voting process; principally, the most serious one was abolition of early voting and extension of the election period.

Allegations of Unofficial Communications

The criticisms of Han are based on specific accusations, particularly aimed at the NEC, which has supposedly been in unofficial communication with various political figures. Such communication undermines, according to Han, the public’s confidence in the electoral process. If it is proven that this happened, it could be interpreted as necesitating a bias or misconduct among the commission overseeing fair elections.

Proposal to Abolish Early Voting

Considering those contexts, Han supports an end to early voting. He claims that early voting can be nothing more than a pretense vulnerable to manipulation and insufficient oversight, which militates against the integrity of the election. Proceeding with the elimination of early voting will, according to Han, enhance the security and transparency of the electoral exercise.

Extension of Main Voting Duration

Han has proposed extending the main voting period to accommodate voters who prefer early voting, either for convenience or necessity. The extension is designed to give all citizens an opportunity to vote, thus keeping the process accessible to all while ensuring monitoring occurs during one extended period of voting.

Responses, Public and Political

For Han’s words set off a lot of reactions across the political spectrum. Supporters say his proposals come quite timely and could improve the credibility of elections. Critics warn, however, that the abolition of early voting is likely to reduce voter turnouts and disadvantage persons incapable of voting on an official designated day, such as those with demanding employment or mobility challenges.