The number of voters in the local elections in South Korea is suspected to have been tampered with. Investigators have searched the headquarters of the election committee

(Kyodo News, Seoul) On Thursday, South Korean investigators raided the office of the election commission to investigate a case where election officials were suspected of tampering with the voting numbers during the local elections in June.

On June 3rd, local elections were held in South Korea. At that time, unprecedented shortages of ballots occurred at dozens of polling stations, and at least 90 voters were unable to cast their votes.

This controversy led to the resignation of the chairman of the Central Election Management Committee, Lu Tae-yoo, and triggered demonstrations demanding a new election. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung ordered an investigation into the matter.

A joint investigation team composed of Korean police and prosecutors said on Thursday (July 23rd) that during a more extensive investigation into the incident, it was discovered that officials had tampered with the voting numbers. As a result, the office of the election committee was searched.

The spokesperson of the joint investigation team said: "There are indications that officials from the Central Election Management Committee and the Gyeonggi Province Election Committee entered false voting numbers during the local elections."

The investigation team said that two election officials have been under investigation for charges such as forging official electronic records, and further investigation will be conducted to determine whether the alleged manipulation involved senior election officials.