[Anchor]

The National Election Commission (NEC) has reported its improvement measures to the National Assembly regarding the shortage of ballots during the June 3 local elections. The NEC stated that it will print ballots equal to the number of registered voters and require a resolution from the central commission if the printing ratio is to be reduced. The special committee for the parliamentary investigation will conduct its first on-site inspection tomorrow, July 2, at the Songpa-gu Election Commission and Jamsil Olympic Park.

Reporter Kim Kwan-jin has the story.

[Reporter]

The National Election Commission announced that starting from elections in the second half of this year, it will print as many ballots as there are registered voters based on the date the voter registry is compiled.

During the second institutional report to the special parliamentary investigation committee held today, the NEC reported that it will adopt a policy of printing 100 percent of the required ballots as a rule.

The commission also stated that it will require a resolution from the central NEC if the printing ratio is to be reduced.

[Kang Dong-wan / Acting Secretary-General of the NEC: We will improve the management system, including the criteria for printing ballots. We will overhaul the entire ballot counting management process from scratch.]

The NEC also explained that it will establish grounds and distribution procedures for additional printing using ballot printers to prepare for emergency situations on election day.

However, as there is a lack of alternative means for unexpected situations such as power outages, the commission decided to review whether to finalize its adoption after a pilot run during by-elections.

During the institutional report to the special committee this morning, lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties criticized the NEC for its attitude toward submitting documents.

[Yoon Kun-young / Democratic Party lawmaker: It is a problem that the submission was late, but even what was submitted is all false.]

[Joo Jin-woo / People Power Party lawmaker: I was so dumbfounded by the report provided that I didn't even ask to see all the NEC staff.]

The special committee will conduct its first on-site inspection tomorrow morning at the Songpa-gu Election Commission in Seoul and the Jamsil Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium.

The on-site inspection, which was originally scheduled for only once, has been increased to two sessions: tomorrow and July 7.

The special committee plans to adopt a parliamentary investigation report after holding two hearings.

(Video Editing: Jang Hyun-ki)