(3rd LD) Inspection of local election ballots stored at Seoul stadium ongoing for 7 hours

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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.

Roughly half of the 2.47 million ballots had appeared to be inspected as of Wednesday evening after special counsel Lee Tae-han's team entered the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southeastern Seoul to examine the ballots at around 11:50 a.m.

The inspection also covers surveillance camera footage and other material, and includes checking for possible irregularities in connection with the elections.

Officials prepare for an inspection of ballot papers cast during the June 3 local elections at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southeastern Seoul on Oct. 28, 2026. (Yonhap)

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 voting was disrupted at some stations and some voters were forced to turn back without casting their ballots.

"(We) hope that this inspection and the currently ongoing investigation serve as an opportunity to resolve the current problems in election management and regain the people's trust," Lee said.

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)

He said the inspection will mainly focus on examining the security camera footage to check for possible intrusions at the site, verifying the number of ballots and checking for possible hacking of ballot sorting machines.

Lee's team has said the examination will not serve as a recount of the votes and is aimed at determining whether there had been any acts of tampering or forgery.

About 500 officials from the National Election Commission were dispatched to support the team in the effort.

A team of observers chosen by the National Assembly, as well as lawmakers and journalists, were also present, considering the high level of public interest.

About 300 protesters gathered around the site, with police deploying some 3,000 officers for crowd control.

While some observers were briefly blocked for attempting to take photos with their mobile phones or use equipment they had brought, no major 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)

(LEAD) Special counsel searches Seoul handball arena in ballot shortage probe

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Special counsel to inspect 2.5 mln ballots in local elections shortage probe

(3rd LD) Inspection of local election ballots stored at Seoul stadium ongoing for 7 hours

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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。

截至周三晚间，在特别检察官李泰汉的团队于上午11点50分左右进入首尔东南部的奥林匹克公园手球馆检查选票后，大约247万张选票中的一半似乎已被检查完毕。

检查范围还包括监控录像和其他材料，并包括检查与选举有关的可能违规行为。

2026年10月28日，在首尔东南部的奥林匹克公园手球体育馆，工作人员正在准备检查6月3日地方选举中投出的选票。（韩联社）

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，导致一些投票站投票中断，一些选民被迫放弃投票，引发了公众的强烈抗议。

李说：“我们希望这次检查和目前正在进行的调查能够成为一个契机，解决选举管理中存在的问题，并重新赢得人民的信任。”

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）

他说，此次检查将主要集中在查看监控录像，以核实现场是否存在入侵行为，核实选票数量，以及检查选票分拣机是否可能遭到黑客攻击。

李的团队表示，此次审查不会作为重新计票，而是旨在确定是否存在任何篡改或伪造行为。

国家选举委员会派出约 500 名官员支援该团队开展工作。

考虑到公众的高度关注，国民议会选出的观察员小组以及议员和记者也出席了会议。

约有 300 名抗议者聚集在现场周围，警方部署了约 3000 名警力进行人群控制。

虽然有些观察员因试图用手机拍照或使用自带设备而被短暂阻止，但没有发生重大冲突的报道。

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

（第三项指控）对存放在首尔体育场的本地选举选票的检查工作已持续7小时。