Ballot shortage prompts raid on South Korea election watchdog, possible tampering probe

2026-07-23

Background to the raid

South Korea's joint prosecution-police task force raided the office of the National Election Commission in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, on the 23rd over a ballot paper shortage in the country's June 3 unified local elections, local media reported.

According to local media, the task force suspects election commission staff who managed polling stations in each region of manipulating system figures to cover up mistakes in entering voter numbers.

Seized internal materials

From the morning of the 23rd, prosecutors and investigators were sent to the National Election Commission office and election offices in Seoul districts where the ballot shortage occurred, and seized related materials including internal servers. The search warrant reportedly cites charges including falsification of public electronic records.

The ballot shortage occurred at 91 polling stations nationwide, mainly in Seoul, leading to temporary suspensions of voting and later closing times. The National Election Commission had said this was because it underestimated turnout and reduced the number of printed ballots.

Concerns later spread that there may have been intentional interference with voting or manipulation of the count. Dissatisfaction also grew, especially among younger people, that their voting rights had been infringed, and it was at one point cited as a reason for opposing the Lee Jae Myung administration.

Lee has instructed the relevant ministries to thoroughly establish the facts, and the joint task force was launched on June 9. Not only this election but also irregularities in past elections could be subject to investigation.

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