'Circumstances of statistical manipulation following turnout errors': Joint Investigation Team conducts search and seizure at National Election Commission [Yonhap News file photo]

The joint prosecution-police investigation team probing the "voter turnout statistical manipulation scandal" is summoning a National Election Commission (NEC) official suspected of involvement in the manipulation for questioning as a suspect.

According to legal sources on the 29th, the Joint Investigation Team for Truth-Finding on the Infringement of Civic Suffrage (led by Kim Tae-hoon, Deputy Chief Prosecutor of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office) plans to summon an official surnamed A, a working-level staff member at the Gyeonggi-do Election Commission, this morning as a suspect on charges including obstruction of business.

This marks the first time the joint investigation team has summoned an NEC official as a suspect in relation to the voter turnout manipulation scandal.

A is suspected of receiving an inquiry from a Gimpo Election Commission employee regarding how to handle an input error in the number of voters during the June 3 local elections, and subsequently discussing and relaying methods and figures for manipulating the statistics with an official at the NEC headquarters.

The joint investigation team is currently investigating findings that working-level NEC staff responsible for local polling station management during the June 3 local elections arbitrarily modified statistical figures in the election management system to conceal errors in voter count entries.

The investigation suggests that instead of following the required procedure—reporting input errors to superiors and obtaining approval for corrections—the staff manipulated statistics by arbitrarily entering false numbers.

In response, the joint investigation team conducted search and seizure operations starting on the 23rd at the NEC headquarters in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi-do, as well as at the Songpa-gu, Gangnam-gu, and Seocho-gu election commissions, securing relevant materials.

The search of servers, which requires significant time for data acquisition, was paused over the weekend and resumed on the 27th.

The joint investigation team also plans to conduct a witness interview today with one NEC official regarding the modification of voter count figures.

Ballot papers: Joint Investigation Team conducts search and seizure at NEC after uncovering 'voting statistical manipulation' [Gwacheon=Yonhap News]

Regarding the shortage of ballot papers, questioning of two Songpa-gu Election Commission officials as suspects is scheduled for today, following similar procedures yesterday.

They are accused of failing to take measures to prevent the ballot paper shortage despite having prior indications that such a shortage could occur at specific polling stations during the June 3 local elections.

They are also suspected of ignoring requests from frontline polling stations for additional ballots and failing to respond immediately.

A witness interview of an NEC official regarding the "alleged overseas junket" of former NEC Chairman Noh Tae-ak and others is also scheduled for today.