What is the special counsel examining at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium?

The team is checking the number of ballots stored at the gymnasium and looking for possible tampering or forgery. It is also examining surveillance camera footage and other material, and said the process is not a recount.

Why are ballots from Seoul’s Songpa Ward being kept at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium?

The gymnasium served as a vote counting center during the June 3 local elections and houses ballots cast in Songpa Ward. Protesters have blocked their removal while calling for accountability and a rerun of the elections.

What prompted the investigation into ballot shortages during South Korea’s June 3 local elections?

Shortages were reported at multiple polling stations nationwide, and some voters had to turn back without voting. The incidents sparked public outcry and formed part of a broader investigation into the election watchdog’s ballot management, suspected voter-turnout data tampering and other alleged misconduct.

Special counsel launches inspection of local election ballots stored at Seoul handball arena

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Summary

Special counsel Lee Tae-han’s team began inspecting ballots and related materials at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southeastern Seoul on Wednesday as part of its investigation into ballot shortages during the June 3 local elections. The team will verify the number of ballots and check for possible tampering or forgery, not recount the votes. The inspection is expected to end around midnight, with election officials, observers, lawmakers and journalists present. About 300 protesters gathered outside, and police reported no physical clashes.

Key Facts

The team is examining 2.47 million ballots cast in Seoul’s southeastern Songpa Ward, along with surveillance camera footage and other material.
About 500 National Election Commission officials are supporting the inspection.
Observers chosen by the National Assembly are attending alongside lawmakers and journalists.
Police deployed about 3,000 officers to manage the crowd around the gymnasium.
The special counsel team was launched last month to investigate the election watchdog’s ballot-paper management, suspected voter-turnout data tampering and other alleged misconduct.

By Yonhap

Published Oct 28, 2026 8:55 am KST
Updated Oct 28, 2026 10:21 am KST

Special counsel Lee Tae-han, center, arrives at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southeastern Seoul, Wednesday, to examine ballots cast during the June 3 local elections. Yonhap

A special counsel team on Wednesday launched an inspection of ballot papers stored at a handball arena in Seoul as part of its probe into an unprecedented shortage of ballots during the June 3 local elections.

Special counsel Lee Tae-han's team entered the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southeastern Seoul to examine 2.47 million ballots, surveillance camera footage and other material, and check for possible irregularities in connection with the elections.

The gymnasium was used as a vote counting center during the elections and houses ballots cast in Seoul's southeastern Songpa Ward as protesters have blocked their removal amid calls for accountability and a rerun of the elections.

The shortages, reported at multiple polling stations nationwide, sparked a major public outcry after some voters were forced to turn back without casting their ballots.

Lee's team said the inspection will not serve as a recount of the votes, but it will be aimed at verifying the number of ballots at the site and determining whether there were any acts of tampering or forgery.

About 500 officials from the National Election Commission will support the team in the effort, which is expected to end around midnight.

The examination will take place in the presence of a team of observers chosen by the National Assembly, as well as lawmakers and journalists, considering the high level of public interest.

About 300 protesters gathered around the site, with police deploying some 3,000 officers for crowd control. No physical clashes were reported.

Lee's team was launched last month to investigate the election watchdog's management of ballot papers, suspected tampering of voter turnout data and other allegations of misconduct.

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