Special prosecutor raids National Election Commission, vendors over alleged W5b favoritism

The special prosecutor investigating the National Election Commission, including allegations of misconduct tied to a ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections, launched forced searches Wednesday against the NEC and related companies over suspected collusion with a specific vendor in the production of polling-station supply kits.

The special prosecutor's office said it was executing search and seizure warrants at five locations on charges of breach of trust and bid rigging — the NEC headquarters in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, and election-supply companies in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, and Daegu. Searches at the NEC began at 9 a.m. and at the vendor sites at 8 a.m., with 31 investigators deployed, including six forensic examiners from the special prosecutor's office and three from the Korean National Police Agency.

The special prosecution team has been probing allegations of lax institutional management, including preferential no-bid contracts and vendor collusion. Investigators identified suspected ties between the NEC and a specific company in connection with contracts to produce polling-station supply kits for last year's 21st presidential election and this year's ninth local elections — deals worth a combined 5 billion won ($3.73 million).

"Based on our analysis of the seized materials, we will uncover the full truth behind the NEC's mismanagement — including preferential no-bid contracts and vendor collusion — and strictly determine who bears responsibility," a member of the special prosecution team said.