Lee Tae-han, Special Prosecutor for Election Commission, Pledges Evidence-Based Investigation

Lee Tae-han, appointed as the special prosecutor to investigate the shortage of ballots during the local elections, stated on August 18 that he will conduct the investigation based on facts and evidence, without political considerations.

Speaking to reporters outside the Dongin Law Group office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Lee emphasized, "The most important duty of the special prosecutor is to uncover the substantive truth."

He added, "To ensure the fairness and neutrality of elections, the independence of the Election Commission must be guaranteed, but independence does not mean a lack of checks and oversight."

Lee expressed the need to closely examine whether the lack of sufficient external checks and oversight, justified by respecting the independence of the Election Commission, has contributed to the recent ballot shortage and other issues, including hiring irregularities.

He reiterated the importance of political neutrality in the investigation, stating, "Neither I nor the special prosecutor team that will be formed will lean toward any party. We will not pre-determine conclusions that favor or disadvantage the ruling or opposition parties or the Election Commission. We will investigate solely based on law, principles, and objective evidence."

Lee also indicated that the investigation should lead to institutional improvements, saying, "It should not just reveal past wrongs. We need to closely examine what structural and institutional problems existed in the election management process and provide objective and substantive evidence to ensure that citizens' voting rights are not infringed upon again."

According to the special prosecutor law for the Election Commission, Lee will conduct the investigation over a maximum of 150 days following a 20-day preparation period. The investigation team may consist of up to 165 members, including five special prosecutors and 20 dispatched prosecutors.

The main targets of the investigation include allegations of ballot shortages, manipulation of voting statistics, overseas trips by Election Commission officials, irregular hiring and promotion practices, preferential treatment in contracts, and collusion with companies, among a total of 12 allegations.