Police Accelerate Investigation into National Election Commission Complaint over Ballot Paper Shortage

"Securing Group Chat Records and Questioning Printing Companies"

Accuser Interviews Conducted... Joint Police-Prosecution Task Force to Be Established

In connection with the ballot paper shortage incident during the June 3 local elections, the police are accelerating their investigation, including conducting interviews with complainants.

The Metropolitan Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency questioned Kim Soonhwan, Secretary General of the Committee for the People's Livelihood Measures, on June 8 as the accuser in the case regarding the shortage of ballot papers. Previously, the committee had filed accusations with the Seoul police against Noh Taeak, Chairman of the National Election Commission, Heo Cheolhoon, Secretary General of the National Election Commission, Oh Minseok, Chairman of the Seoul Election Commission, and others on charges including dereliction of duty.

Kim Soonhwan, Secretary General of the People's Livelihood Countermeasure Committee, is entering the Metropolitan Crime Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, on the 8th to undergo a complainant investigation related to the allegations of dereliction of duty by election commission executives concerning the shortage of ballots in the June 3 local election. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The police have been investigating the case since receiving the complaint. They secured and analyzed chat rooms used by election workers and questioned public officials who were mobilized for election-related work. In addition, they summoned citizens who claimed they were unable to vote due to the shortage of ballot papers, as well as representatives from printing companies, to examine the facts of the case.

The incident came to light on June 3, when, during the main voting day, 50 polling stations nationwide—including those in Songpa-gu, Seoul—faced a shortage of ballot papers, resulting in additional supplies being delivered or temporary suspension of the election. At Polling Station No. 2 in Jamsil 7-dong, Songpa-gu, voting was delayed by four hours, leading to long waits and confusion, which in turn triggered calls for accountability from the election commission and demands for a re-election.

The police stated that once the joint investigation headquarters between the prosecution and the police is fully operational, related cases will be investigated under the joint task force system. An official from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said, "The police will continue to conduct necessary investigations swiftly, including carrying out the accuser interview today, to ensure there are no setbacks in the operation of the joint task force." Previously, President Lee Jaemyung had instructed the formation of the joint investigation team in response to the ballot shortage incident, and the Supreme Prosecutors' Office also announced that it would quickly establish the joint task force to investigate the infringement on citizens' voting rights during the election process.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.