Parties agree on special prosecutor for Election Commission ballot shortage

South Korea's ruling and opposition parties have reached an agreement to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the ballot shortage incident during the recent 9th local elections. The decision, announced Tuesday, aims to address public concerns and ensure accountability regarding the electoral commission's failure.

Under the agreement, a National Recommendation Committee will be formed, comprising three members nominated by the Democratic Party and three by the People Power Party. This committee will be responsible for selecting candidates for the special prosecutor role.

The committee will then solicit recommendations from the Korean Bar Association and the Association of Law School Deans, each providing three nominees. From this pool of six, the National Recommendation Committee will select two individuals to present to the President. The President will then make the final appointment of the special prosecutor from these two candidates.

This move comes amid scrutiny of the National Election Commission (NEC) following the discovery of insufficient ballots in numerous polling stations across the country. The incident has led to calls for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shortage and potential irregularities.