Lee Tae-han Launches Investigation by Special Counsel for NEC: "We Will Not Be Shaken by Political Controversy"

[Financial News] The special counsel’s team led by Lee Tae-han, which is investigating the shortage of ballots and alleged infringement of voting rights during the June 3 local elections, officially launched its investigation on the 7th. Lee stressed that the investigation would proceed according to law and principle, without being swayed by political controversy or unverified allegations.
The special counsel’s team held a sign-unveiling ceremony outside its office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, at 10 a.m. that day. Lee and five deputy special counsel—Park Hyuk, Kim Eun-jung, Kim Sang-cheon, Kwon Geun-hwan and Kim Jin-woo—attended.
At the ceremony, Lee said, "The special counsel’s investigation is intended to protect the people’s constitutional right to vote and restore the fairness and credibility of elections." He added, "We will conduct the investigation swiftly and thoroughly, with a profound sense of responsibility."
He further stressed, "We will fully guarantee due process and human rights throughout the investigation and will not be swayed by 'unverified allegations' or 'political controversy.'"
At a briefing held after the ceremony, the team introduced the five deputy special counsel and explained its future investigative direction and staffing. Regarding the specific division of duties, Lee said it had been organized while reviewing case records and drawing up an investigation plan, adding, "We will investigate according to law and principle without prejudgment."
Of the 20 prosecutors requested by the special counsel’s team, 15 are currently reporting for duty. Given the abolition of the prosecution service and the reorganization of investigative agencies scheduled for October 2, only the minimum necessary number of prosecution investigators was dispatched. The team plans to request additional investigators after the Serious Crime Investigation Agency is launched.
The team also received investigative and evidentiary materials previously secured by the joint investigation headquarters of the prosecution and police. Rather than simply continuing the existing investigation, however, the special counsel plans to reanalyze the materials in their entirety.
Lee said, "These are merely basic materials. The special counsel’s investigative team will analyze everything again and begin the investigation anew with a fresh approach."
The polling station at Olympic Park, where controversy arose during the June 3 local elections, may also be examined again.
Lee explained, "It is clear that the polling station was the starting point for the launch of the special counsel’s investigation." He added, "There are matters to verify, including the voter rolls and various election-related documents stored at the site." Since an on-site inspection by the National Assembly’s Special Committee on the Parliamentary Investigation failed to take place, the team is also considering identifying specific subjects for inspection if necessary.
The special counsel’s team is also placing emphasis on analyzing digital evidence. Because the investigation involves the NEC, a national agency, the team considers detailed analysis and procedural legitimacy essential and has formed its own forensic unit. It will initially conduct forensic work with its own personnel, while planning to seek support from the National Forensic Service or the Korean National Police Agency if necessary.
The special counsel’s team will examine 12 subjects of investigation, including allegations that the shortage of ballots infringed voting rights; that vote counting was forced to proceed after inadequate management; that procedures were violated in reducing the standard for ballot-printing quantities; and that turnout figures were miscalculated or statistics were manipulated. Misconduct by NEC officials will also be investigated. The basic investigation period is 90 days, with two possible 30-day extensions, allowing the investigation to continue for a maximum of 150 days.

 
[email protected] Choi Eun-sol Reporter