Roh Tae-ak, chair of the National Election Commission, offers a public apology over the ballot paper shortage at the National Election Commission in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi, on the afternoon of the 5th. /Courtesy of News1

Regarding the shortage of ballots on the day of the June 3 local elections, former National Election Commission Chairperson Roh Tae-ak was first briefed on the situation only 40 minutes before voting ended.

According to materials submitted by the National Election Commission to the office of Rep. Yoon Kun-young of the Democratic Party of Korea on the 20th, former Chairperson Roh received an oral briefing from the National Election Commission Spokesperson at about 5:20 p.m. on June 3. That was 40 minutes before the close of in-person voting (6 p.m.).

Former Secretary-General Heo Cheol-hun, the working-level official in charge, received the first report from the public affairs line at 5:10 p.m., and Deputy Secretary-General Kang Dong-wan received it at 5:20 p.m.

The National Election Commission first became aware of the ballot shortage at 4:25 p.m. the same day. That was when it received a related complaint call from the No. 3 polling station in Garak 2-dong, Seoul. Earlier, the commission said it first recognized the issue at 5:08 p.m. that day, but there was about an hour's gap between the actual recognition time and the report to the top leadership.

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