Special counsel searches Seoul handball arena in ballot shortage probe

Special counsel Lee Tae-han’s team searched the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southeastern Seoul on Tuesday as part of its probe into ballot shortages during the June 3 local elections. Investigators sought election records and surveillance camera footage to examine the shortages and allegations of poor election management by the National Election Commission. The search came a day before the team’s planned inspection of ballots stored at the gymnasium, where protesters have blocked their removal and called for accountability and a rerun.

The gymnasium holds 2.47 million ballot papers cast in Seoul’s southeastern Songpa Ward.

The special counsel team launched its investigation last month, and Tuesday’s search was its first search and seizure of the arena.

Police deployed 20 mobile units to prevent potential clashes, while about 100 protesters were scattered across Olympic Park.

Some voters at multiple polling stations were forced to leave without casting ballots, prompting public outcry.

Published Oct 27, 2026 11:01 am KST

Updated Oct 27, 2026 11:38 am KST

Protestors attend a rally decrying ballot shortages in the June 3 local elections at Olympic Park Seoul, June 18. Korea Times photo by Jung Da-bin

A special counsel team on Tuesday searched a handball arena that served as a vote counting center earlier this year as part of a probe into an unprecedented shortage of ballots during the June 3 local elections.

Special counsel Lee Tae-han sent investigators to execute a search-and-seizure warrant at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southeastern Seoul, to secure election records and surveillance camera footage.

It marked the special counsel team's first search and seizure of the arena since its investigation launched last month.

Lee's team said it plans to review the secured material to investigate the circumstances surrounding the ballot shortage and allegations of poor election management by the National Election Commission.

Multiple polling stations reported ballot shortages during the local elections, and some voters were forced to turn back without casting their votes, sparking major public outcry.

The search took place a day before the special counsel team's inspection of voter ballots stored at the gymnasium.

The site houses 2.47 million ballot papers cast in Seoul's southeastern Songpa Ward as protesters have blocked their removal amid calls for accountability and a rerun of the elections.

Police deployed 20 mobile units Tuesday to prevent potential clashes. About 100 protesters were scattered across Olympic Park, including dozens near the handball arena's entrance used by the special counsel team.

特别检察官李泰汉的团队周二搜查了位于首尔东南部的奥林匹克公园手球馆，这是其对6月3日地方选举选票短缺问题调查的一部分。调查人员寻求获取选举记录和监控录像，以查明选票短缺情况以及国家选举委员会在选举管理方面存在不当行为的指控。此次搜查发生在调查团队计划检查存放在该体育馆的选票的前一天，此前抗议者阻止了选票的取出，并要求追究责任并重新举行选举。

体育馆内存放着首尔东南部松坡区投出的 247 万张选票。

特别检察官小组上个月启动了调查，周二的搜查是他们首次对该体育馆进行搜查和扣押。

警方部署了 20 辆机动车以防止可能发生的冲突，约 100 名抗议者分散在奥林匹克公园各处。

多个投票站的部分选民被迫离开，未能投票，引发公众强烈抗议。

发布于2026年10月27日上午11:01（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月27日上午11:38（韩国标准时间）

6月18日，抗议者在首尔奥林匹克公园举行集会，谴责6月3日地方选举中选票短缺的问题。韩国时报记者郑多彬摄。

周二，特别检察官小组搜查了一座手球馆，该球馆曾于今年早些时候被用作计票中心，这是对6月3日地方选举中前所未有的选票短缺情况进行调查的一部分。

特别检察官李泰汉派调查人员前往首尔东南部的奥林匹克公园手球体育馆执行搜查令，以获取选举记录和监控录像。

这是特别检察官小组自上个月启动调查以来首次对该体育馆进行搜查和扣押。

李的团队表示，他们计划审查已掌握的材料，以调查选票短缺的情况以及国家选举委员会选举管理不善的指控。

地方选举期间，多个投票站报告选票短缺，一些选民被迫放弃投票，引发了公众的强烈抗议。

搜查行动发生在特别检察官小组检查存放在体育馆的选民选票的前一天。

该地点存放着首尔东南部松坡区投出的 247 万张选票，抗议者阻止了这些选票的移除，他们要求追究责任并重新举行选举。

周二，警方部署了20辆机动巡逻车以防止可能发生的冲突。约100名抗议者分散在奥林匹克公园各处，其中数十人聚集在特别检察官小组使用的手球馆入口附近。