Police investigate four complaints over ballot shortages... "Basic probe underway before task force is set up"

[The Financial News] Police have received four complaints related to the ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections and have launched an investigation.
At a regular press briefing at the National Police Agency in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, on the 8th, Sung-joo Park, chief of the National Office of Investigation, said, "A total of four complaints against officials from the National Election Commission and others have been filed, and all have been assigned to the Metropolitan Criminal Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency."
Earlier, some civic groups filed complaints with police against NEC officials, accusing them of dereliction of duty and other offenses over the ballot shortage that occurred during the main voting process in the local elections. In response, President Lee Jae-myung ordered the formation of a Joint Prosecutor-Police Investigation Task Force the previous day to clarify responsibility and thoroughly uncover the full facts of the case.
Park said, "This is a situation that requires a swift investigation," adding, "A joint task force with prosecutors is expected to be set up, but until then we are conducting basic inquiries into people who were unable to vote, printing shops and election officials."
He added, "We are moving quickly with the preliminary investigation according to the roadmap so that operations can proceed without disruption once the task force is established."
However, detailed discussions on the formation of the joint prosecutor-police task force are still under way.
Park said, "Only the principles for forming the task force have been decided, and no details such as the number of personnel to be dispatched have been finalized yet." He added, "The schedule for working-level meetings has not been firmly set either, but I think they may begin as early as today."
He also said that once the task force is formed, the investigation will move forward quickly according to the division of roles.
Park also expressed concern over allegations of assaults on journalists during the protest.
He stressed, "We are viewing the assault cases involving reporters and others very seriously. I understand there may be moves to file complaints or charges, but no case has been received yet. Once a case is filed, we will move quickly with the investigation in accordance with the law and principles, based on collected evidence and other materials."
welcome@fnnews.com Jang Yu-ha Reporter