NEC Special Counsel to Verify 2.47 Million Ballots and CCTVs at Olympic Park on Oct. 28

The special counsel team led by Lee Tae-han, which is investigating the ballot shortage incident during the June 3 local elections, will conduct a public verification of ballots at Olympic Park in Jamsil on October 28.

The special counsel team announced today that it will verify approximately 2.47 million ballots from Songpa-gu and related items, including on-site CCTVs, at the Handball Gymnasium in Olympic Park on October 28.

The special counsel team emphasized that this verification is part of its investigative activities and is not a recount under the Public Official Election Act.

A recount is conducted when there is an objection to election results.

This public verification will be carried out with the cooperation of related agencies, including the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, the National Election Commission (NEC), and Korea Sports Promotion Foundation.

It will also proceed with the resolution of the National Election Commission and the Songpa-gu Election Commission, under the observation of an observation group, lawmakers, and journalists.

Considering the public interest and symbolism of the issue, the special counsel team has arranged for about 100 people—including an observation group selected by the National Assembly, which holds parliamentary audit rights, and ruling and opposition lawmakers—to monitor the process.

More than 50 journalists will also participate.

Through the verification, the special counsel team plans to check the integrity of the ballots, including changes in quantity and whether they are forged.

It will also check for errors in various equipment and documents used for voting and counting.

Specifically, it plans to check whether there were any external intrusions through CCTVs monitoring the ballot storage locations.

The team plans to primarily check the quantity, markings, and printing status of the ballots, separately classify any abnormal ballots discovered during the process, and then conduct a secondary precision inspection.

Furthermore, the special counsel team will look into potential errors, such as whether equipment used like ballot sorters was hacked.


The special counsel team plans to deploy all available personnel, numbering more than 110, including prosecutors belonging to the team and assistant special counsels.

It has also decided to receive support from personnel and equipment of the National Police Agency and the National Forensic Service, as well as about 500 NEC personnel to assist in checking ballot quantities.

An official from the special counsel team said, "Through this verification, by thoroughly investigating various suspicions such as the ballot shortage which are subject to investigation under the Special Counsel Act, we will do our best to resolve public suspicions regarding the fairness of public elections and election management work."

Launched on September 7, the Lee Tae-han special counsel team is investigating ballot shortages, forced vote counting, manipulation of voting statistics, overseas junkets by NEC officials, preferential treatment in illegal hiring and promotions, and preferential private contracts and collusion with businesses for up to 150 days.

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