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The special counsel team investigating the shortage of ballot papers during the June 3 local elections has launched its first search and seizure operation at the Handball Gymnasium in Seoul's Olympic Park since its establishment. Having secured CCTV footage from inside the stadium where the ballot boxes are stored, the special counsel will also conduct on-site verification of 2.47 million ballot papers.
Reporter Dong Eunyeong has the details.
[Reporter]
Dozens of police officers walk in formation, removing all signs posted outside the stadium and clearing away a tent placed in front of the entrance.
Shortly after, individuals carrying blue boxes enter the stadium.
This marks the special counsel team's search and seizure operation targeting the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, where the ballot papers are stored, as part of its investigation into the ballot paper shortage incident during the June 3 local elections.
This is the first search and seizure conducted at Olympic Park since the launch of the special counsel team. It has been confirmed that former National Election Commission Chairperson Noh Tae-ak was named as a suspect for dereliction of duty in the search and seizure warrant.
Having secured CCTV footage from inside the stadium—where election-related documents and ballot boxes are stored—through yesterday's search and seizure, the special counsel is proceeding with an on-site voluntary verification at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium today.
Authorities plan to verify the quantity and condition of the approximately 2.47 million ballot papers inside the stadium to check for any discrepancies in the number of ballots or signs of forgery. If abnormal ballots are found, a secondary, detailed forensic examination is planned.
They also plan to examine the possibility of hacking into equipment such as ballot sorters.
Today's verification involves 110 special counsel personnel and about 500 National Election Commission staff, alongside external observers including lawmakers and journalists.
The special counsel stated, "As this voluntary verification is part of investigative activities and not a recount, it will not, in principle, affect the determination of elected officials or vote counts."
(Video by: Lee Sang-hak | Video Editing by: Ahn Yeo-jin)
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