KOR
▲ Special Prosecutor Lee Tae-han, leading the investigation into the shortage of ballots during the June 3 local elections, answers questions from reporters as he arrives at the temporary special prosecutor's office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 24th.
Special Prosecutor Lee Tae-han, who is leading the investigation into the shortage of ballots in the June 3 local elections, announced that he will soon request the appointment process for a shortlisted group of 10 candidates for assistant special prosecutors.
In a media notice today (August 26), Special Prosecutor Lee explained, "We selected 10 candidates by combining the list held by the special prosecutor's office with the list received from the Korean Bar Association yesterday."
He added, "However, as it takes about one to two days to verify any disqualifying factors for the assistant special prosecutor candidates, we plan to submit the list to the presidential office after that period."
He also emphasized, "The assistant special prosecutor candidates were selected purely based on practical work capabilities, and we are making thorough preparations so that once the assistant special prosecutors are appointed—even during the preparation period—they can immediately review records and commence foundational investigations."
Previously, Special Prosecutor Lee stated that regarding the selection criteria for assistant special prosecutors, forensic and investigative capabilities would be considered with the highest priority, while political neutrality, objectivity, character, and social reputation would also be comprehensively evaluated as secondary factors.
Under the direction and supervision of the special prosecutor, assistant special prosecutors handle case investigations and the maintenance of indictments, oversee special investigators and dispatched public officials, and manage public relations with the media, receiving treatment equivalent to chief prosecutors.
Under the Special Prosecutor Act, President Lee Jae-myung must appoint five assistant special prosecutors within five days from the date of the appointment request.
Once the five assistant special prosecutors are finalized, full-scale investigations by the special prosecutor's team on the National Election Commission are expected to begin early next month.
Special Prosecutor Lee plans to receive dispatched personnel from the prosecution and police on a priority basis within this week.
Yesterday (August 25), Special Prosecutor Lee visited the Seoul Bar Association to request the recruitment of special investigators.
The joint prosecution-police investigation headquarters (led by Kim Tae-hoon, the 3rd Deputy Chief Prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office) is also known to have completed preparations to transfer investigative records to the special prosecutor's office.
Special Prosecutor Lee is continuing preparations for the launch, including the selection of dispatched staff, at the temporary office set up in The Base Seocho Building in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul.
As the National Assembly's Special Committee on State Investigation has requested the special prosecutor's office to observe the on-site verification at the Olympic Park counting center, related procedures and legal grounds are also under review.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.
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