Seoul: Police on Thursday concluded a comprehensive raid on the National Election Commission (NEC) and several local offices in Seoul, targeting the investigation of ballot shortages during last week's local elections.
According to Yonhap News Agency, over 100 police investigators were deployed in the 13-hour operation, covering seven locations. These included the NEC's headquarters in Gwacheon and local offices across Seoul, where ballot shortages had been reported. The shortages affected voting at 26 polling stations nationwide, with the majority occurring in Seoul's Songpa Ward during the June 3 elections.
Authorities are scrutinizing the NEC and its local branches for potential election law breaches and neglect of duty related to the ballot shortfall. The incident has sparked ongoing protests, with demonstrators gathering for a week at Songpa Ward's vote-counting facility, demanding a re-election.
Former NEC Chairman Rho Tae-ak, who resigned amid the controversy, is named as a suspect in the search and seizure warrant. Investigators aim to gather evidence from the raids to identify the cause of the ballot shortages.
Police have stated their commitment to a thorough investigation, which will include analyzing the seized evidence and interviewing involved parties to uncover the truth behind the incident. The seized materials include the NEC's ballot printing plans and documents from the Gangnam branch, detailing the number and storage of ballots on election day.