Overview
- Polling places nationwide ran out of ballots during the June 3 local elections, which delayed voting, left some people unable to cast ballots, and provoked public protests and calls for a re-run.
- President Lee Jae Myung ordered a full investigation and the National Election Commission chief Roh Tae-ak resigned in July as the crisis escalated.
- A joint police-prosecution task force has executed search-and-seizure operations at the NEC headquarters in Gwacheon and at branch offices in Songpa, Gangnam and Seocho to collect paper and digital evidence.
- Investigators booked two officials from the NEC Songpa branch on alleged dereliction of duty and say they will question additional NEC staff about possible data manipulation, duplicate ballot serial numbers, and unofficial changes to voter counts.
- The NEC administers ballots and turnout reporting for elections, so the probe raises the prospect of criminal charges and wider reforms if investigators confirm wrongdoing and failures that deprived voters of their rights.