Special counsel searches handball gymnasium in ballot shortage probe

A special counsel team on Tuesday searched a handball arena that served as a vote-counting center earlier this year as part of a probe into unprecedented ballot shortages during the June 3 local elections.

Special counsel Lee Tae-han sent investigators to execute a search and seizure warrant at SK Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southern Seoul to secure election records and surveillance camera footage.

Lee’s team plans to review the secured records to investigate the circumstances surrounding the ballot shortages.

Multiple polling stations reported ballot shortages during the local elections, and some voters were forced to turn back without casting their votes, sparking major public outcry.

The search took place a day before the special counsel team’s inspection of ballots stored at the gymnasium.

The site houses 2.47 million ballots cast in Songpa District, as protesters have blocked their removal following calls for accountability and a rerun of the elections.

Yonhap