Special Prosecutor to Investigate South Korean Election Irregularities Approved by Assembly

A special prosecutor bill aimed at investigating the ballot shortage during South Korea's June 3 local elections has been approved by the National Assembly. The legislation passed with overwhelming support, with only two lawmakers opposing it.

The investigation will scrutinize the circumstances surrounding the ballot shortage and other alleged violations of citizens' right to participate in elections. This includes examining potential errors in the electronic input of the election management system and allegations of election data manipulation. The bill also allows for the investigation of any related offenses discovered during the probe.

Furthermore, the special prosecutor's mandate will extend to investigating alleged misconduct within the National Election Commission. This includes accusations of lavish overseas trips by commission staff, hiring irregularities, and questionable practices in awarding contracts. The passage of this bill also extends the period for a parliamentary inquiry into the ballot shortage, which will involve a recount of 2.47 million ballots stored at Olympic Park in Seoul.