South Korea Election Commission Faces Calls for Criminal Investigation Following Ballot Shortage Scandal

SEOUL—A truth-finding committee investigating the ballot shortage incident during South Korea's local elections concluded its 10-day probe today. The committee recommended that former NEC Chairman Roh Tae-ak and other high-ranking officials be referred for criminal prosecution, citing the need for systemic reforms amounting to an organizational overhaul.

The committee, composed of six external experts including lawyer Cho Hyun-wook, operated from June 10 to June 19. According to Yonhap News, Chairman Cho stated that the total failure of the election management system warrants legal accountability.

Twelve individuals have been recommended for investigation, including five former high-level officials such as Roh Tae-ak and former Secretary-General Heo Cheol-hoon. Additionally, various committee chairmen and senior officials from the Seoul and Songpa-gu election commissions were named. The committee also advised disciplinary action against six staff members involved in the incident.

Findings reveal that on June 3, 140 out of 14,288 polling stations across the country suffered from ballot shortages. Of those, 91 stations required additional deliveries, and 26 experienced temporary suspensions in voting.

The committee emphasized that the NEC requires comprehensive reform. Proposed measures include: - Increasing the pre-printed ballot ratio to over 70%. - Minimizing the use of non-serialized ballots. - Reducing the discretionary power of the NEC secretariat. - Transitioning the NEC chairmanship to a full-time, permanent position. - Revising operational manuals to prioritize on-site emergency response. - Establishing real-time monitoring systems at polling stations. - Placing the NEC under the inspection authority of the Board of Audit and Inspection.