Special Prosecutor Lee Taehan: "Groundless Claims Must Also Be Clarified; We Will Remain Impartial to All Parties"

Special prosecutor Lee Taehan, who has been appointed to investigate various allegations against the National Election Commission, said on August 18, "The role of the special prosecutor is not to amplify suspicions, but to resolve them," adding, "Both myself and the special prosecution team that will soon be formed will remain impartial to all parties."

Speaking to reporters in front of his office at Dongin Law Firm in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the same day, Special Prosecutor Lee stated, "We must also clearly identify any groundless claims," reiterating his position. He continued, "We will not determine in advance any politically advantageous or disadvantageous conclusion for either the ruling or opposition party, or for the National Election Commission," and stressed, "Our investigation will be conducted solely according to the law, principles, and objective evidence and facts."

Lee Taehan, non-standing commissioner of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, appointed as a special prosecutor for investigating the shortage of ballots in the June 3 local elections, answers questions from the press on August 18, 2026, at Dongin Law Firm in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

He further stated, "This investigation must not simply stop at revealing past wrongdoing," adding, "Through this special investigation, we will closely examine what systemic issues may have existed in the election management process." Lee added, "We will prepare objective and substantive grounds that can help improve Korea's election management system so that citizen suffrage is never again infringed upon."

Additionally, Special Prosecutor Lee said, "In order to ensure fairness and neutrality in elections, the independence of the National Election Commission must absolutely be protected," but he stressed, "Independence does not mean the absence of checks and oversight." He went on, "We need to closely examine whether, under the pretext of respecting the Commission's independence, external checks and oversight have been insufficient, and whether this structural issue has contributed to the occurrence or amplification of a range of issues including the ballot shortage and recruitment irregularities."

Lee also said, "We will thoroughly verify why the ballot shortage occurred, whether the issue could have been sufficiently prevented in advance, and how decision-making and management took place. For allegations such as recruitment irregularities, we will also verify each case according to the law and principles and clarify accountability in the event of any illegal acts."

Meanwhile, as of the day of his appointment, Special Prosecutor Lee will begin up to 20 days of preparation for his duties. The investigation must be completed within 90 days, starting the day after the preparation period ends. If necessary, a 30-day extension may be granted following a report to the President and the National Assembly. If more time is still required, one additional 30-day extension may be approved by the President.

If needed, the special prosecutor may request the dispatch of up to 20 prosecutors and up to 70 other public officials (excluding prosecutors) from relevant agencies. The President is required to appoint five assistant special prosecutors recommended by the special prosecutor, and the special prosecutor may also appoint up to 70 special investigators.

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