Seoul: The chief of the country's election watchdog offered to resign Friday over an unprecedented shortage of ballot papers that disrupted voting in some areas in Seoul during this week's local elections. Roh Tae-ak, chairperson of the National Election Commission (NEC), made the announcement amid public backlash over the commission's poor handling of ballot distribution for Wednesday's local elections.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Roh expressed his deep sense of responsibility for the situation during a press briefing at the agency's headquarters in Gwacheon, south of Seoul. He apologized for undermining public trust in election management, acknowledging that the incident dampened voters' strong interest in local government and participation in the elections.

Roh stated, "Furthermore, I feel devastated and infinitely responsible as chairman of the National Election Commission for the situation that undermined public trust in election management and led to distrust in the election process." NEC Secretary General Heo Cheol-hoon also offered to resign, as confirmed by Roh.

Roh pledged to fully cooperate with all investigations into the incident, including a possible parliamentary probe. The NEC plans to launch an independent committee composed of outside experts to determine the exact cause of the shortage and propose preventive measures.

Ballot shortages were reported at more than a dozen polling stations in Seoul, including in the southeastern wards of Songpa and Gangnam, prompting temporary suspensions of voting there. Some voters reportedly left without casting their ballots after waiting. Protesters alleging election fraud later gathered at a polling station in Jamsil in Songpa Ward, blocking election officials from transporting ballot boxes to a counting center. Police eventually dispersed the crowd earlier in the day and transferred the ballot boxes containing around 2,000 ballots for vote counting.