Election Commission Rules Seoul Ballot Shortage Does Not Warrant Revote or Halt to Counting

A shortage of ballots at some polling stations in Seoul prompted the temporary suspension of voting during the June 3 local elections, mostly affecting Songpa Ward. The National Election Commission held an emergency meeting early on June 4 and determined that the shortage does not constitute grounds for postponing the election or conducting a revote under the Public Official Election Act.

The commission stated it would be impossible to halt vote counting.

The main opposition People Power Party strongly protested the incident and called for halting vote counting and holding a reelection. Roh Tae-ak, chairperson of the National Election Commission, left the emergency meeting at the NEC in Gwacheon, just south of Seoul, on June 4.