Special Prosecutor Lee Tae-han, tasked with investigating the June 3 local election ballot shortage and other related cases, is set to make successive courtesy visits to the Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, and the National Police Agency.

Special Prosecutor Lee is scheduled to visit the Government Complex Gwacheon today (the 20th) at 5:00 p.m. to meet with Vice Minister of Justice Lee Jin-soo and Lee Eung-chul, Director General of the Prosecutors' Office.

Tomorrow (the 21st) at 11:00 a.m., he will visit the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to meet with Park Gyu-hyung, Head of the Planning and Coordination Department. At 1:00 p.m. on the same day, he will visit the National Police Agency to meet with the Acting Commissioner General and the Head of the National Office of Investigation.

Special Prosecutor Lee is expected to discuss matters such as the dispatch of personnel, including prosecutors and investigators needed for the special counsel team, and measures for investigative cooperation with officials from each agency.

Previously, Special Prosecutor Lee visited the joint police-prosecution investigation headquarters, which has been investigating allegations related to the National Election Commission, yesterday (the 19th) and discussed the transfer of cases and the dispatch of personnel with Kim Tae-hoon, the 3rd Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office.

After finishing his visit to the joint investigation headquarters, Special Prosecutor Lee stated, "Given the unfavorable internal personnel situation of the prosecution, it seems difficult to receive all the support requested," but added, "We have requested cooperation to the maximum extent possible."

The special counsel team plans to finalize the selection of assistant special prosecutors soon and embark on forming a full-scale investigation team.

Regarding the selection of assistant special prosecutors, Special Prosecutor Lee stated that he will focus on expertise in digital forensics and investigative capabilities.

Under the Special Counsel Act on the National Election Commission, the special investigation team can be organized with a maximum of 165 members, including 5 assistant special prosecutors, 70 special investigators, up to 20 dispatched prosecutors, and up to 70 dispatched public officials.

Special Prosecutor Lee, who was appointed on the 18th, is expected to select assistant special prosecutors and investigative personnel and set up an office during a preparation period of up to 20 days, before launching the full-scale investigation early next month.

The official investigation period is 90 days, and it can be extended twice by 30 days each if necessary, allowing for a maximum investigation period of 150 days.

The scope of the investigation covers a total of 12 allegations, including the local election ballot shortage and the manipulation of voting statistics, as well as junket trips by National Election Commission officials, preferential hiring and promotions, and preferential private contracts and collusion with businesses.

(Photo: Yonhap News)