South Korean Committee Starts On-Site Inspection of Ballot Shortage Sites

Committee officials said. The panel approved the inspection plan during a July 1 plenary meeting at the National Assembly in Seoul. It will examine the Songpa District Election Commission and the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southern Seoul, both used during the June 3 vote.

The committee plans to request police cooperation in advance because of ongoing protests at Olympic Park. Protesters have blockaded the Handball Gymnasium since June 5 to prevent removal of ballot boxes stored there. Kang Dong-wan, acting secretary-general of the National Election Commission, told the committee July 1 that the commission is open to allowing ruling and opposition party representatives and civic groups to inspect the stored ballot boxes.

"We have concluded that it would be difficult to resolve the issue on our own," he said. Wi Chul-hwan, acting chairman of the National Election Commission, answered lawmakers' questions during the same meeting. The 18-member committee was formed last month to determine the cause of the shortages that suspended voting at 26 polling stations nationwide.

The committee moved its second inspection from July 8 to July 7, though the location remains undecided. It will hold its first hearing July 14 and a second hearing July 22 before issuing a final report.