Rival parties agree to launch parliamentary probe on election ballot shortage

SEOUL, June 16 (Yonhap) -- The rival parties agreed Tuesday to conduct a 45-day parliamentary investigation into the National Election Commission over ballot shortages reported during the recent local elections, party officials said. The ruling Democratic Party (DP) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) agreed to put the plan to a vote at a parliamentary plenary session on Thursday. The special parliamentary committee will be chaired by the PPP, according to the officials from both parties. Ballot shortages were reported at more than a dozen polling stations in Seoul during the June 3 local elections, temporarily disrupting voting and prompting protests. Last week, the DP and the PPP separately submitted requests for a parliamentary probe, though they differed over the scope of the investigation and the number of seats to be allotted to each party on the committee. National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik (C) poses for a photo with Han Byung-do (L), floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party, and Jeong Jeom-sig, new floor leader of the main opposition People Power Party, during their meeting at Cho's office in Seoul on June 11, 2026. (Pool photo) (Yonhap) julesyi@yna.co.kr(END)