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The Metropolitan Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. / Asia Today DB

Eight days after the ballot shortage incident, police launched a compulsory investigation into the National Election Commission (NEC) and local election commissions.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s Major Crime Investigation Unit began searches at 9 a.m. on June 11 at seven locations, including the NEC headquarters in Gwacheon, the Seoul Election Commission, and district offices in Songpa, Seocho, Gangnam, Gwangjin, and Dongjak, on suspicion of violating the Public Official Election Act and dereliction of duty.

The raids aim to determine the causes and accountability for the shortage of ballot papers at some polling stations during the June 3 local elections, which disrupted voting for citizens.

More than 100 investigators from the Major Crime Investigation Unit, the National Investigation Headquarters, and Seoul’s digital forensics team were mobilized. Three prosecutors and about ten investigators from the joint prosecution‑police task force set up to uncover the truth also joined the searches at the NEC, the Seoul Election Commission, and Songpa District Election Commission.

Police plan to examine the preparation and distribution process of ballot papers, on‑site response, and reporting systems. In particular, they intend to focus investigative resources on identifying how the shortage led to infringement of citizens’ voting rights.

A police official stated, “Through today’s raids, we are concentrating on securing evidence to uncover the substantive truth of the incident, including the causes that led to the infringement of citizens’ right to vote.”

                                                                                                            Seol So‑young