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

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout with details; RECASTS lead; ADDS photo)

SEOUL, Oct. 28 (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.

yunhwanchae@yna.co.kr
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