Lee vows sweeping reforms to election administration following ballot shortage

SEOUL, June 8 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung vowed to pursue sweeping reforms to election administration during a meeting with the country's top officials Monday after ballot paper shortages during local elections raised questions about election management.

Lee made the pledge in the meeting attended by Prime Minster Kim Min-seok, National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik, Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae and Constitutional Court President Kim Sang-hwan.

The meeting came after the National Election Commission came under fire over ballot paper shortages reported at more than a dozen polling stations in Seoul alone during the June 3 local elections and parliamentary by-elections. More than 50 polling stations nationwide are said to have experienced at least a temporary shortage of ballot papers.

Some voters reportedly returned home without casting their ballots due to such shortages.

The participants of Monday's meeting agreed on the need to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and promptly establish measures to prevent a recurrence, according to Lee Kyu-youn, senior presidential secretary for communication.

"They agreed that those involved should be held strictly accountable administratively and legally based on the results of the investigation," he told a press briefing.

They also "resolved to pursue sweeping reforms to election management sufficient to restore public trust."

At the opening of the meeting, the president said, "It is necessary to get to the bottom of the incident, even if it does not produce a clear solution."

He reiterated the need for accountability in a manner that will match the public's expectations, while also calling for measures to address the issue, according to the presidential secretary.

"Regardless of the number (of votes affected) or whether they had any impact on the (election) results, this is a very serious problem that cannot be excused" under any circumstance, the president said.

He noted that the incident had undermined the people's rights and sovereignty, stressing that "this situation cannot be overlooked."

President Lee Jae Myung (2nd from L) holds a meeting with top institutional leaders at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on June 8, 2026. (Yonhap)