Opposition Proposes Special Committee for 'Public Opinion Poll Verification and System Improvement' vs Ruling Party Calls It "Anti-Democratic" (Comprehensive)

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The Democratic Party of Korea decided on the 20th to form a special committee to verify public opinion polls and promote institutional improvements.

On the same day, the Democratic Party approved the agenda to form the 'Special Committee on Public Opinion Poll Verification and Institutional Improvement' at a closed Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly.

Three-term lawmaker Wi Seong-gon will serve as the chairman, with lawmakers Lee Yeon-hee, Lee Kang-il, Kim Young-hwan, and Hwang Jeong-ah participating as members.

Chief spokesperson Cho Seung-rae stated, "If there is suspicion or judgment of distortion or manipulation of public opinion polls, we will refer the matter to the Central Election Poll Deliberation Commission," adding, "We will also develop tasks for institutional improvement during that process."

Spokesperson Cho also said, "Rather than proposing legislation, we will gather various institutional improvement measures from the Election Commission and the Public Opinion Poll Association related to response rate standards and prior notification to prepare improvement plans."

The special committee will hold a forum on the 23rd at the National Assembly focusing on responses to public opinion manipulation and institutional improvements.

In response, Park Min-young, spokesperson for the People Power Party, issued a statement on the same day, saying, "The rationale sounds plausible, but in short, it is an attempt to 'shut down public opinion polls,'" and criticized, "We cannot help but condemn this anti-democratic behavior that denies all information that does not suit their taste."

Spokesperson Park emphasized, "Threatening to accuse polling agencies just because the results are unfavorable and even planning protest visits is nothing short of a farce," and urged, "The Democratic Party should regain its reason."

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