Members of the National Assembly's 'Special Committee on Fact-Finding regarding Infringements on Voting Rights, such as the Ballot Shortage during the 9th Nationwide Simultaneous Local Elections, and Electoral Management Reform' enter the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium counting center in Songpa-gu, Seoul, for an on-site investigation on the 2nd. [National Assembly Press Corps] 

The National Election Commission (NEC) estimated on the 7th that it would take a total of 9 hours and cost 50 million won to verify the ballots from the June 3rd local elections, currently stored at the Olympic Park counting center in Jamsil, Songpa-gu, before transporting them.

The NEC reported this plan while presenting its proposal for ballot transportation during the second on-site investigation by the National Assembly’s Special Committee on the June 3rd Local Election Ballot Shortage.

The NEC stated, "There is a need to resolve public anxiety and suspicion arising from the long-term storage of ballots in a temporary space, and to restore the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium to its original function."

Currently, a total of 2.47 million ballots are stored at the Jamsil counting center, including 37 ballots from the Seoul mayoral election, 250,000 from the Songpa-gu Council's 'Ma' constituency, and 40,000 from Jamsil 7-dong. The Special Committee previously visited the Olympic Park on the 2nd to inspect the site.

The NEC reported that to conduct verification—including visual re-inspection of ballots, and sorting and confirmation by party and candidate—before transport, 440 personnel and a budget of 50 million won would be required, with a total duration of 9 hours.

The NEC proposed its Gwacheon headquarters as the destination for the ballots, noting that the Songpa-gu Election Commission building houses a kindergarten and a postpartum care center, and that prolonged protests in front of the building would cause severe inconvenience to citizens.

The NEC believes that its Gwacheon headquarters is more suitable because access control is easier, and the location is accustomed to frequent protests, allowing for police cooperation to ensure security and minimize additional confusion.

Regarding the transport plan, the NEC announced that ballots would be loaded onto vehicles and transported to the NEC headquarters under the observation of one representative recommended by each political party in the National Assembly. It added that the loading and transport process would be recorded, and that observers and police officers would accompany the transport vehicles.

The NEC also announced a plan to attach special seals signed by the observers to the entrances after transport, and to install CCTV cameras inside and at the entrances for continuous recording.

Furthermore, the NEC emphasized that preliminary measures, such as a separate verification process, are necessary before transportation.

However, it explained that under current laws, the NEC lacks the legal grounds for an ex officio recount. Therefore, to prove the integrity of the ballots—confirming they are the same ones used on election day—it is necessary to conduct a ballot verification through a resolution by the Special Committee.

Following the second on-site investigation targeting the NEC and the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission, the Special Committee plans to hold hearings on the 14th and 22nd, with the goal of tentatively adopting a final report.