A South Korean investigation committee has recommended criminal probes for the current and former chairs of the National Election Commission.

The findings highlight systemic failures in electoral administration that threatened the integrity of the democratic process by causing ballot-paper shortages during a major election cycle.

The Central Election Commission's Investigation Committee, chaired by 조현욱, focused its inquiry on the local elections held on June 3, 2024 [4]. After a 10-day investigation, the committee said the shortages resulted from "overall negligence" [1]. The report specifically cited a hasty decision to set the ballot-paper printing lower limit at 50% without proper deliberation [2].

These shortages were felt nationwide, though the most severe instances occurred in Seoul’s Songpa District [1]. Because of these failures, the committee said former chair 노태악 and current chair 위철환 be referred for criminal investigation [1].

Beyond individual accountability, the committee recommended that the National Election Commission be placed under audit by the Board of Audit and Inspection [1]. To prevent future shortages, the probe suggested raising the minimum printing threshold for ballot papers from the previous 50% to at least 70% [3].

The committee said the previous limit was established without sufficient evidence or deliberation, leading to the logistical collapse seen during the June 2024 vote [1].

“The committee cited "overall negligence" and a hasty decision to set the ballot-paper printing lower limit at 50%.”

This recommendation signals a significant escalation in accountability for South Korea's electoral management. By shifting the printing threshold from 50% to 70%, the commission is prioritizing redundancy over cost-saving to ensure voter access. The call for a Board of Audit and Inspection probe suggests that the failures were not merely clerical errors but systemic administrative lapses.