Lee Tae-han, the special counsel of the National Election Commission investigating the shortage of ballot papers in the June 3 local elections and other matters, said on the 28th that he selected 10 candidates for deputy special counsel and asked President Lee Jae-myung to appoint them. The special counsel plans to begin a full-fledged investigation when it starts operations on Aug. 7 after building out the team.
The special counsel said in a notice to the media that day that 10 candidates for deputy special counsel were selected and that he requested the president appoint them as deputy special counsels.
Under the special counsel law, the president must appoint five deputy special counsels within five days of the appointment request. If the president does not appoint the deputy special counsels within five days, the eldest among the 10 candidates is deemed appointed.
On the 25th, the special counsel received six candidates for deputy special counsel recommended by the Korean Bar Association, then selected a pool of 10 candidates and reviewed any disqualifying factors. The special counsel said that forensic capability and investigative ability were given top priority as selection criteria for deputy special counsel. Political neutrality and objectivity, character, and social reputation would also be assessed comprehensively, he said.
Deputy special counsels, under the direction and supervision of the special counsel, handle case investigations and the maintenance of prosecutions, direct and supervise special investigators and dispatched public officials, manage media relations, and receive treatment equivalent to a chief prosecutor.
Currently, 14 people are on duty, including three dispatched prosecutors, five special investigators, and six dispatched police officers. By Aug. 4, letters requesting cooperation have been sent to the Ministry of Justice and the Korean National Police Agency to complete the assignment of more than 60 investigative personnel, including 20 prosecutors as well as prosecution investigators and police.
The special counsel also said that he asked the "Joint Prosecutors-Police Investigation Headquarters for Fact-Finding on the Infringement of the People's Suffrage" to transfer all records and seized evidence of cases currently investigating to the special counsel's office. On the 31st, the special counsel plans to first receive and review the digitized case records, set out future investigation plans, and begin a full-fledged investigation simultaneously with the start of operations on Aug. 7.
In addition, as it remains uncertain whether the National Assembly's Special Committee on a Parliamentary Investigation will conduct an on-site inspection of the Songpa ballot-counting center and other locations, he said a legal review is underway during the preparation period after the 31st to determine what actions the special counsel can take.