(LEAD) Special counsel launches inspection of local election ballots stored at Seoul handball arena

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SEOUL, Oct. 28 (Yonhap) -- A special counsel team on Wednesday launched an inspection of ballot papers stored at a handball arena in Seoul as part of its probe into an unprecedented shortage of ballots during the June 3 local elections.

Special counsel Lee Tae-han's team entered the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southeastern Seoul to examine 2.47 million ballots, surveillance camera footage and other material, and check for possible irregularities in connection with the elections.

The gymnasium was used as a vote counting center during the elections and houses ballots cast in Seoul's southeastern Songpa Ward as protesters have blocked their removal amid calls for accountability and a rerun of the elections.

The shortages, reported at multiple polling stations nationwide, sparked a major public outcry after some voters were forced to turn back without casting their ballots.

Special counsel Lee Tae-han (L) arrives at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southeastern Seoul on Oct. 28, 2026, to examine ballots cast during the June 3 local elections. (Yonhap)

Lee's team said the inspection will not serve as a recount of the votes, but it will be aimed at verifying the number of ballots at the site and determining whether there were any acts of tampering or forgery.

About 500 officials from the National Election Commission will support the team in the effort, which is expected to end around midnight.

The examination will take place in the presence of a team of observers chosen by the National Assembly, as well as lawmakers and journalists, considering the high level of public interest.

About 300 protesters gathered around the site, with police deploying some 3,000 officers for crowd control. No physical clashes were reported.

Lee's team was launched last month to investigate the election watchdog's management of ballot papers, suspected tampering of voter turnout data and other allegations of misconduct.

Police officers secure the entrance to the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southeastern Seoul on Oct. 28, 2026, ahead of a special counsel team's inspection of ballots cast during the June 3 local elections. (Yonhap)

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr (END)

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(LEAD) Special counsel launches inspection of local election ballots stored at Seoul handball arena

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首尔，10 月 28 日（韩联社）——周三，一个特别检察官小组对首尔一家手球馆内储存的选票展开检查，这是其对 6 月 3 日地方选举中前所未有的选票短缺事件​​进行调查的一部分。

特别检察官李泰汉的团队进入首尔东南部的奥林匹克公园手球体育馆，检查了247万张选票、监控录像和其他材料，并核查了与选举有关的可能违规行为。

在选举期间，该体育馆被用作计票中心，存放着首尔东南部松坡区投出的选票。抗议者阻止了选票的移除，他们要求追究责任并重新举行选举。

据报道，全国多个投票站出现物资短缺，一些选民被迫放弃投票，引发了公众的强烈抗议。

2026年10月28日，特别检察官李泰汉（左）抵达首尔东南部的奥林匹克公园手球馆，审查6月3日地方选举的选票。（韩联社）

李的团队表示，此次检查不会作为重新计票，而是旨在核实现场的选票数量，并确定是否存在任何篡改或伪造行为。

国家选举委员会约 500 名官员将协助该团队开展这项工作，预计工作将于午夜前后结束。

考虑到公众的高度关注，此次考试将在国民议会选出的观察员小组以及议员和记者在场的情况下进行。

约300名抗议者聚集在现场周围，警方部署了约3000名警力维持秩序。据报道，没有发生肢体冲突。

李的团队上个月成立，负责调查选举监督机构对选票的管理、涉嫌篡改选民投票率数据以及其他不当行为的指控。

2026年10月28日，在首尔东南部奥林匹克公园手球馆入口处，警方人员严密把守，为特别检察官小组即将对6月3日地方选举的选票进行核查做准备。（韩联社）

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr (完)

（新闻快讯）特别检察官搜查首尔手球馆，调查选票短缺问题

地方选举选票检查期间将部署48个防暴警察单位

特别检察官将检查地方选举选票短缺调查中的250万张选票

（新闻快讯）特别检察官对存放在首尔手球馆的地方选举选票展开检查