Parties Agree to State Audit on Ballot Paper Shortage; People Power Party to Chair Committee

South Korea's ruling and opposition parties have reached an agreement to launch a state audit into the ballot paper shortage that plagued the June 3 local elections. The move aims to uncover the truth behind the incident and reform election management.

The National Assembly's special committee, tasked with the investigation, will be headed by the People Power Party. The committee will comprise an equal number of members from both the ruling party and the main opposition Democratic Party. The parties plan to process the state audit plan at the plenary session on June 18.

The investigation will primarily target the National Election Commission and its regional offices. While the People Power Party's initial request to include the presidential office and the police in the audit was not granted, both parties agreed to cooperate in summoning witnesses from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and various local governments. These entities are considered directly involved in the election process.