The joint investigation team probing the voting paper shortage that occurred during the June 3 local elections has begun investigating the research project commissioned by the National Election Commission (NEC) that served as the basis for reducing the printing volume of voting papers. The aim is to examine whether the NEC's internal decision-making process was appropriate when it lowered the minimum printing standard to 50% of the number of voters.
According to legal sources on July 9, the joint investigation team, led by Deputy Chief Prosecutor Kim Tae-hoon of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, plans to summon one official involved in the NEC's research project as a witness for questioning. They also intend to question one official each from the Seoul City Election Commission, the Seocho District Election Commission, and the Gwangjin District Election Commission.
The Korea Administrative Research Institute conducted a study in 2022 on improving election procedures at the request of the NEC. After completing the research, the institute submitted a report titled "Improvement Measures for Election Procedures - Focusing on City and County Committees" to the NEC in December of the same year.
The report reportedly suggested reducing the printing volume of voting papers used on election day, citing issues such as the high number of discarded voting papers and a lack of storage space for them. Following this, the NEC is said to have utilized the report to lower the printing volume from over 60% to over 50% of the number of voters.
The report included opinions on the necessity of reducing the printing volume of voting papers and noted instances where papers were stored in city and county committee meeting rooms due to a lack of storage space before distribution on the morning of election day. It also raised concerns about potential security issues from storing election materials and voting papers together, and suggested delaying the start time for early voting due to excessively early arrival times for election commission staff.
The joint investigation team plans to verify the appropriateness of the research project commissioning and execution, the content of the report, and the process by which the report led to the actual policy of reducing voting paper printing. They will also investigate what internal reviews and approvals the research results underwent before being reflected in policy.
Additionally, the investigation team is looking into the circumstances surrounding the disposal of voting paper storage boxes. The Seoul Eastern District Court conducted an on-site verification at the second polling station in Jamsil 7-dong on June 10 to secure evidence related to the voting paper shortage but found that the storage boxes in question had been disposed of.
The election commission reportedly stated that the boxes were disposed of before they received the court's list of items to be preserved as evidence. The joint investigation team plans to confirm the timing and directives regarding the disposal of the storage boxes with officials from the Seoul City Election Commission. Previously, on July 3, the team also questioned officials from the Seocho District Election Commission who were responsible for operations related to the second polling station in Jamsil 7-dong.
This investigation marks a significant step in questioning officials based on materials secured following a search and seizure operation. On June 11, the joint investigation team conducted searches at seven locations, including the NEC and the Seoul City Election Commission, to gather materials related to the voting paper shortage.
The scope of the joint investigation is expanding to encompass the entire election commission. The investigation team has recently received additional personnel from the prosecution and police to form a dedicated team focused on personnel and budget issues. This team is looking into allegations of hiring irregularities and overseas business trips raised in the political arena. The team is led by Lim Hong-seok, a senior prosecutor at the Tongyeong branch of the Changwon District Prosecutors' Office, who has experience with the Das Special Investigation Team.
Earlier, President Lee Jae-myung directed the expansion of the joint investigation team during a cabinet meeting last month, instructing them to also investigate budget issues and hiring irregularities within the election commission. Consequently, the joint investigation team plans to broaden its scope to include inquiries into the overall operations of the election commission alongside identifying the causes of the voting paper shortage.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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