South Korea's election commission under probe and facing constitutional reform debate

South Korea's National Assembly special committee has begun a detailed investigation into the voting‑paper shortage that plagued the June 3 local elections. The probe involves hearings with more than 70 witnesses, including former election‑commission officials, the interior minister and police chiefs, and is expected to examine the role of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Parallel to the investigation, the ruling People Power Party and the Democratic Party are locked in a dispute over how to reform the Central Election Commission. The opposition favors a constitutional amendment that would dissolve and restructure the agency, while the ruling party pushes for a special prosecutor and legislative changes without amending the constitution. A joint police‑prosecutor task force is also pursuing allegations of misappropriated overseas travel expenses by former commission chair Nos. Taek‑ak and other officials.