Independent Counsel Raids 10 Locations Including Busan, Gyeongnam, and Gyeongbuk Election Commissions Over Preferential Election Supply Contracts

The special counsel team led by Independent Counsel Lee Tae-han for the National Election Commission (NEC) has launched a coercive investigation after capturing circumstances of preferential treatment regarding the NEC's exclusive storage contracts for election supplies.

The special counsel team announced that starting around 9:30 a.m. today (the 15th), it is conducting raids on 10 locations—including the election commissions of Busan, Gyeongnam, and Gyeongbuk, five regional and municipal election commissions, the Election Training Institute in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, and the residences of NEC officials—on charges including occupational breach of trust and obstruction of bidding.

The special counsel team reportedly expanded its investigation after confirming circumstances that the Busan, Gyeongnam, and Gyeongbuk election commissions have maintained exclusive, preferential warehouse contracts with a specific company since 2022.

Around 30 personnel, including 10 forensic investigators from the special counsel team, were deployed to the raid sites.

The special counsel team stated, "Based on the analysis of the seized materials, we will uncover structural corruption behind the lax operation of election commissions at all levels."

Separately from the allegations of preferential treatment regarding election supply contracts, the special counsel team discovered that the NEC falsely entered the number of hourly voters during the June 3 local elections. Consequently, starting around 9:10 a.m. today, it is conducting raids on a total of 7 locations, including the National Election Commission, four provincial and municipal election commissions in Chungnam, Jeonnam, Gwangju, Gyeongnam, and Gangwon, and two regional and municipal election commissions in Nam-gu, Busan, and Seogwipo, Jeju.

The special counsel team specified charges in the search and seizure warrants, including falsification of official electronic records and obstruction of official duties by fraudulent means.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.