Student bodies at 18 universities denounce 'voting rights violations,' plan to hold joint rally

Student governments across 18 universities are scheduled to release a joint declaration on Wednesday to denounce the alleged violations of voting rights.

The statement is part of the movement calling for accountability regarding the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections, which is spreading across campuses nationwide.

A student representative group stated on Tuesday that participating schools are scheduled to release a joint declaration and host a joint rally at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in time for the 39th anniversary of the June democratic uprising.

The National Election Commission recorded a shortage of 7,194 ballots across 91 polling stations in the country on June 3, or Election Day, according to data submitted to Rep. Jung Hee-yong of the People Power Party.  At some polling stations, the ballot sheets were belatedly delivered, extending the valid voting deadline by four hours.

The participating student governments condemning the incident are from Yonsei University, Konkuk University, Korea University, Kyung Hee University, Sogang University, Seoul National University, University of Seoul, Sungkyunkwan University, Soongsil University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Hongik University, SeoulTech, Sookmyung University and Hanyang University in Seoul, Pusan National University in Busan, Chungbuk National University in Cheongju and Chonnam National University in Gwangju. 

"We urge a thorough investigation into the election management failures and the implementation of effective measures to prevent a recurrence," said Yonsei University student representatives. "As June marks the month in which our predecessors, such as Lee Han-yeol, shed their blood, sweat and tears to achieve democracy, we are taking action to protect those [same] values […] that have been damaged."

Lee Han-yeol (1966-1987) was a student activist from Yonsei University who was fatally shot in the head during a pro-democracy protest on campus in 1987. He became a symbol of the movement following his death.  

“The [participants] plan to deliver a unified message reflecting the collective will of the university community and the younger generation's commitment to protecting our democracy and voting rights,” the representatives added.

The student governments are expected to call for a parliamentary probe and special counsel investigation into those responsible; measures to remedy violations of fundamental rights; structural reform of the National Election Commission; and the establishment of a citizen oversight body to monitor those reforms.

The protest is not limited to students in Seoul and Gwangju. In Incheon, the student governments at Inha University and Incheon National University have also issued statements through their social media accounts.

In Busan and Daegu, student councils and university organizations at Pusan National University, Pukyong National University and Kyungpook National University said that they are preparing similar declarations.

BY HAN CHAN-WOO, OH SAM-GWON [[email protected]]