A team comprising police and prosecution officials in South Korea is scheduled to interrogate a group of civil servants who were stationed at polling stations that encountered ballot shortages during the local elections held on June 3. Four officials have been summoned for questioning as part of the investigation into the ballot scarcity that led to the temporary halt of voting at 26 polling stations nationwide. The individuals in question were responsible for distributing ballots at two polling stations in Seoul that faced a depletion of ballot papers.
The investigative team intends to inquire about the response measures adopted by the election watchdog to address the shortages, as reported by the Yonhap news agency. Allegations under scrutiny include claims that the National Election Commission hastily opted to reduce the printed ballot quantity and inadequately managed the ballot shortages on the election day. The recent questioning session follows a raid conducted by the joint investigation team at the offices of 12 election commission officials overseeing polling stations in Seoul that encountered ballot deficits.
Protesters advocating for a rerun of the elections have been staging demonstrations outside the Olympic Park Handball Stadium in southern Seoul for the 21st consecutive day. Their blockade of the stadium, which served as a ballot-counting venue during the elections, commenced on June 5 to prevent the removal of ballot boxes from the site. Despite the election watchdog’s apology for the ballot shortages, it maintains that the situation does not necessitate a rerun under the election law.
Amid ongoing protests, Morse Tan, a Korean American scholar noted for alleging election fraud in South Korea, held a press conference outside the stadium. Tan, who is facing a police investigation for purportedly defaming President Lee Jae Myung, asserted that the president should step down to be accountable for what he alleges was election fraud. Tan expressed readiness to undergo police interrogation after missing a scheduled questioning session earlier in the day. Last year, Tan made claims in a U.S. press conference suggesting Lee’s involvement in a murder case during his teenage years, leading to his detention in a juvenile facility.
