Special counsel team raids election watchdog in probe into ballot shortages

Published Sep 17, 2026 9:59 am KST

Special counsel Lee Tae-han speaks during a press conference in Seoul, Sep. 7. Joint Press Corps

A special counsel team on Thursday raided the national election watchdog and other local election commissions as part of its probe into shortages of ballots during the June 3 local elections.

It marked the first raid by special counsel Lee Tae-han's team after its launch on Sept. 7 to investigate the shortages that sparked major public outcry after some voters were forced to turn back without casting their votes.

Lee's team sent investigators to the National Election Commission and eight other locations for the search and seizure to seize internal records from the watchdog's offices.

The special counsel team is tasked with investigating the election watchdog's management of ballot papers during the local elections and other allegations of misconduct.

发布于2026年9月17日上午9:59（韩国标准时间）

特别检察官李泰汉于9月7日在首尔举行新闻发布会。（联合记者团）

周四，特别检察官小组突击搜查了国家选举监督机构和其他地方选举委员会，这是其对 6 月 3 日地方选举期间选票短缺情况进行调查的一部分。

这是特别检察官李泰汉的团队自9月7日成立以来首次进行突击搜查，该团队旨在调查因选票短缺而引发的公众强烈抗议，此前一些选民被迫放弃投票。

李的团队派调查人员前往国家选举委员会和其他八个地点进行搜查和扣押，以从该监督机构的办公室中获取内部记录。

特别检察官小组的任务是调查选举监督机构在地方选举期间对选票的管理情况以及其他不当行为指控。