"Securing materials related to ballot shortage and other allegations"

Lee Tae-han, the special prosecutor investigating the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections and other allegations involving the National Election Commission, briefs reporters on his team's plans at the special prosecutor's office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday.
Lee Tae-han, the special prosecutor investigating the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections and other allegations involving the National Election Commission, briefs reporters on his team's plans at the special prosecutor's office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on Wednesday.

The special prosecutor's team investigating allegations against the National Election Commission — including a ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections — launched its first coercive investigation Thursday, just 10 days after taking office, raiding the commission's headquarters and regional offices.

The team said it began search-and-seizure operations at around 9:10 a.m. Thursday at the National Election Commission headquarters and nine regional offices — including those in Gyeonggi Province, Incheon, Busan and Daegu — to establish the facts surrounding the ballot shortage and related issues during the June 3 local elections.

It is the first time the team has conducted a raid since its official launch on Sept. 7. One deputy special prosecutor, six prosecutors and 68 investigators were deployed to the sites, including 22 forensic specialists.

"This search and seizure is aimed at securing materials related to the ballot shortage at the ninth nationwide simultaneous local elections and other matters stipulated in the National Election Commission special prosecutor act," the team said. "The special prosecutor's team will secure the necessary materials in accordance with the law and principles, and will swiftly and thoroughly verify the relevant facts."


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