Special counsel probes Seoul handball arena for ballot shortage evidence

Key facts

• Special counsel Lee Tae-han is leading the probe.
• The search warrant was executed at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium.
• Election records and surveillance footage were sought.
• The ballot shortage occurred during the June 3 local elections.
• 2.47 million ballot papers are stored at the gymnasium.

A special counsel team on Tuesday searched the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in Seoul, which had served as a vote counting center, as part of an investigation into a ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections. Special counsel Lee Tae-han's team executed a search-and-seizure warrant to secure election records and surveillance camera footage. The probe aims to clarify the circumstances that led to the shortage, which caused public outcry and prevented some voters from casting ballots. The search preceded an inspection of 2.47 million ballot papers stored at the gymnasium.