National Election Commission establishes fact-finding committee over ballot shortage crisis...Ruling and opposition parties raise questions of responsibility

The National Election Commission has decided to establish and operate a factfinding committee centered on external experts to determine the cause of the ballot shortage that occurred in the June 3 local elections. The NEC said it would verify the onsite situation through analysis of the voting records and statements from poll managers and clerks. This incident led to confusion as voters had to wait at at least 14 polling stations, including those in Songpagu, Gangnamgu, and Gwangjingu in Seoul, due to a shortage of ballots. Even after issuing an apology, the NEC explained that the incident does not qualify as grounds for delaying the election or holding a byelection. In political circles, calls for accountability were raised. Jo Seungrae, secretarygeneral of the Democratic Party of Korea, said those responsible should be held accountable for the NEC's poor management, while Song Eonseok, floor leader of the People Power Party, demanded the resignation of the heads of the National Election Commission and the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission, and mentioned the need for an urgent parliamentary investigation and a special counsel probe. President Lee Jaemyung also expressed strong regret and called for measures to prevent recurrence and to clarify responsibility.