▲ Paper slips with a message calling for a new election are attached on a ticket box as protesters continue to stage a rally in front of the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium, used as a vote-counting facility, in Seoul's Songpa Ward on June 8, 2026, over an unprecedented shortage of ballot papers that disrupted voting in the June 3 local elections at some polling stations in the capital's southern areas. (Yonhap)

(LEAD) election watchdog chief-resignation

(LEAD) Supreme Court chief justice accepts election watchdog head's resignation amid ballot shortage controversy

(ATTN: ADDS details in last 5 paras)

SEOUL, June 8 (Yonhap) -- The Supreme Court chief justice has accepted the resignation of the head of the country's election watchdog, sources said Monday, following an unprecedented shortage of ballot papers that disrupted voting in some areas of Seoul during last week's local elections.

According to the sources, Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae dismissed Roh Tae-ak, chairperson of the National Election Commission (NEC), from his post amid public backlash over the commission's poor handling of ballot distribution for June 3 local elections.

Roh offered to resign Friday, saying he feels "deeply responsible for the whole situation."

Ballot shortages were reported at more than a dozen polling stations in Seoul during the local elections, including in the southeastern districts of Songpa and Gangnam, prompting temporary suspensions of voting there.

Some voters reportedly left without casting their ballots after waiting in long lines.

On Monday, the NEC said it had sent additional ballots to 140 polling stations out of a total of 14,288 nationwide as shortages were expected. The figure marks an increase of 73 from its initial investigation results released on Friday.

Of them, 53 were in Seoul, followed by Gyeonggi Province with 36 and Incheon, located just west of Seoul, with 18.

The NEC added that 91 of the polling stations that received additional ballots actually used them in the voting process.

The number of polling stations where voting was temporarily suspended and later resumed due to the shortages came to 26, up four from the previous investigation result.

The watchdog said it plans to operate a fact-finding committee from Wednesday through June 19 to look into the incident, with members recommended by civic organizations, media, legal and academic communities.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]