South Korea's election committee investigates ballot‑paper shortage in 6·3 local elections

The National Assembly’s special investigation committee (국조특위) conducted a second on‑site inquiry of the Central Election Commission and Seoul’s election office into the shortage of ballot papers that affected the 6·3 local elections. The probe examined the agencies’ awareness, reporting and decision‑making timelines and criticized a delayed response.

A dispute erupted between the ruling People Power Party and the opposition Democratic Party over which officials should be called as witnesses, with the former demanding the defense minister and presidential secretariat chief and the latter rejecting the latter. The two parties also clashed on the method for appointing a special prosecutor to investigate the matter.

The committee learned that about 2.47 million unused ballots remain stored at the Olympic Park handball venue. Verifying these ballots would require roughly 9 hours, 440 staff members and an estimated cost of 50 million won. Election petitions have surged to 690 filings, 87.5 % of which cite the ballot shortage as the reason. The committee plans hearings on July 14 and 22 and may pursue a special investigation to address the alleged mishandling.