On June 24, the joint investigation headquarters announced that it had conducted raids on the offices of three Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission officials and nine Songpa-gu Election Commission officials to meticulously reconstruct the events surrounding the ballot paper shortage on election day. [Photo = Yonhap News]  The joint investigation headquarters (JIS) formed to uncover the truth behind the "ballot paper shortage" during the June 3 local elections is continuing its investigation into officials from the National Election Commission (NEC) day after day.

According to legal sources, the JIS plans to summon one official from the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission and two officials from the Seocho-gu Election Commission for questioning as witnesses on the 1st.

The JIS is focusing on identifying the reporting chain through which election officials, who were notified of the ballot shortage at polling stations, escalated the issue internally and what instructions they subsequently received.

To this end, the headquarters conducted raids on 12 election commission officials on the 24th of last month, and has since been summoning them one by one to reconstruct the reporting lines and response measures taken on election day.

The JIS is also investigating allegations of "overseas junkets" involving former NEC Chairperson Roh Tae-ak and others.

During his tenure, former Chairperson Roh traveled abroad to countries including Germany and Sweden on three occasions accompanied by his spouse. Since these trips were not included in the NEC's post-trip reports, suspicions of embezzlement have been raised.

The JIS summoned the complainant regarding these allegations the previous day to gather details. On the 2nd, the investigation team also plans to summon an official from the People Power Party’s Media Special Committee, who filed a complaint regarding the same charges.

It has been reported that the police force within the JIS has been partially reinforced.

Previously, President Lee Jae-myung mentioned the necessity of investigating the overall internal operations of the NEC during a cabinet meeting and suggested the need to expand the JIS personnel, which currently stands at around 30.

The police have since issued an internal notice to recruit personnel to be dispatched to the joint investigation headquarters.