Special counsel inspects ballots in Seoul election shortage probe

Key facts

• Special counsel is inspecting ballots stored at Seoul's Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium.
• The inspection is part of a probe into a ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections.
• About 2.47 million ballots were stored at the venue.
• The probe aims to determine if there were acts of tampering or forgery.

A special counsel team began inspecting local election ballots stored at a Seoul stadium on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, as part of an investigation into a shortage of ballots during the June 3 local elections. The probe, led by special counsel Lee Tae-han, aims to determine if there were any acts of tampering or forgery. Roughly half of the 2.47 million ballots stored at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium had been inspected by Wednesday evening. The inspection also includes reviewing surveillance footage and other materials for irregularities. The shortage of ballots during the June elections had sparked public outcry and calls for accountability.