[Anchor]

The joint investigation team of prosecutors and police, tasked with uncovering the truth behind the ballot paper shortage, is questioning election commission officials to verify the reporting chain at the time of the incident. The team has also launched a full-scale investigation into allegations of questionable overseas trips taken by election commission officials.

Reporter Jeon Yeon-nam has the story.

[Reporter]

The joint investigation team has summoned one official from the Gangnam-gu Election Commission and two from the Seocho-gu Election Commission as witnesses.

These individuals are the working-level staff who received reports on the situation from the polling stations where the ballot shortage occurred.

Based on these interviews, the joint investigation team plans to focus on determining how the ballot shortage was identified, the channels through which it was reported to the city election commission and others, and what instructions were given in response.

Previously, on June 24, the joint investigation team conducted searches and seizures on 12 election commission officials, securing items such as mobile phones.

The investigation into allegations of questionable overseas trips by former National Election Commission Chairperson Noh Tae-ak and others has also begun in earnest.

Former Chairperson Noh traveled abroad three times, including to Germany and Sweden, accompanied by his spouse. However, these facts were not recorded in the election commission's post-trip reports, leading to allegations of embezzlement.

Following the questioning of the accuser regarding these allegations, the joint investigation team also plans to question an official from the People Power Party who filed a complaint on the same charges.

[Lee Sang-hwi/People Power Party lawmaker (June 17): We are filing this complaint to hold the National Election Commission accountable for wasting taxpayer money through embezzlement, regarding their behavior of taking questionable overseas trips.]

The joint investigation team, which has received an additional five police personnel, is expanding its investigative capacity by requesting accounting analysis experts from the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to examine the embezzlement allegations and other matters comprehensively.

Reported by Jeon Yeon-nam | Video by Kim Jun-hee