Lee Tae-han, appointed as special counsel to investigate the incident of ballot shortages that marred the 2026 June local elections, heads to the headquarters of the National Police Agency in Seoul, South Korea, 21 August 2026. Photo by YONHAP / EPA

Aug. 28 (Asia Today) — A special counsel investigating alleged irregularities involving South Korea’s National Election Commission is accelerating efforts to assemble its investigative team ahead of the formal launch of its investigation.

The special counsel’s office, headed by Lee Tae-han, said Friday it sent official requests for cooperation to the Justice Ministry and National Police Agency as it seeks to complete the deployment of about 60 investigators by Sept. 4.

The team is expected to include 20 prosecutors as well as prosecution investigators and police officers.

The special counsel is investigating issues including a shortage of ballots during South Korea’s June 3 local elections.

The office currently has 14 personnel, including three dispatched prosecutors, five special investigators and six police officers.

On Friday, the special counsel also asked a joint prosecution-police investigation headquarters examining alleged violations of citizens’ voting rights to transfer all records and seized evidence related to cases under investigation.

The team plans to receive digitized case records Monday, review the materials and formulate its investigative strategy.

The special counsel also is conducting a legal review of steps it can take during its preparatory period because it remains uncertain whether a National Assembly investigative committee will carry out an on-site inspection of vote-counting facilities, including one in Seoul’s Songpa district.

“We will prepare thoroughly so that we can quickly begin a full-scale investigation when the special counsel officially begins its work on Sept. 7,” the office said.

— Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260828010009754