▲ Ballot storage boxes
The joint investigation team of prosecutors and police, formed to uncover the truth behind the "ballot shortage" during the June 3 local elections, plans to investigate allegations that the National Election Commission (NEC) disposed of ballot storage boxes.
The joint investigation team recently took over the case, which had previously been assigned to the Metropolitan Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.
A citizen had previously filed a complaint with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, requesting an investigation into the NEC and employees of an external disposal company on charges of destruction of evidence and dereliction of duty.
It was found that the box used to store ballots before the start of voting at the Jamsil 7-dong No. 2 polling station in Songpa-gu, where the ballot shortage occurred during the June 3 local elections, disappeared after the election. The NEC stated, "There was no obligation to store them, so they were disposed of."
Having taken over the case, the joint investigation team is expected to examine whether the NEC had an obligation to manage the ballot storage boxes after the voting concluded and whether there was any specific intent behind the disposal process.
In addition, regarding allegations that National Election Commission officials took "vacation-like" overseas trips to resort destinations such as the Maldives, the People Power Party filed a complaint with the joint investigation team this morning (June 17) on charges of occupational embezzlement.
The complaint includes allegations that a total of 86.8 million won in budget was spent on overseas trips to locations including Bangkok, Kota Kinabalu, Florence, and Venice, including 14.7 million won spent by NEC officials for the purpose of observing the presidential election in the Maldives.
The joint investigation team is expected to begin a full-scale investigation into the allegations of "vacation-like" overseas trips by the NEC.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.