Seoul: The chief of the country's election watchdog has offered his resignation following an unprecedented shortage of ballot papers that disrupted voting in several areas during this week's local elections in Seoul.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Roh Tae-ak, chairperson of the National Election Commission (NEC), announced his decision amid widespread public backlash over the commission's inadequate handling of ballot distribution for Wednesday's elections. In a press briefing held at the NEC headquarters in Gwacheon, Roh expressed deep responsibility for the situation and apologized for the erosion of public trust in the election process.

Roh acknowledged the incident's negative impact on voter interest and participation in local government. "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," he stated. Additionally, NEC Secretary General Heo Cheol-hoon also offered his resignation as confirmed by Roh.

The NEC has committed to cooperating fully with all investigations, including a potential parliamentary probe into the incident. The presidential office underscored the seriousness of the resignations and urged for a thorough review of the election management process to restore public confidence. A Cheong Wa Dae official emphasized the need for the NEC to provide an acceptable explanation and implement strict follow-up measures to address public concerns.

To address the issue, the NEC plans to establish an independent committee of external experts to investigate the root causes of the ballot shortages and develop preventive strategies. The shortages affected over a dozen polling stations in Seoul, notably in the southeastern districts of Songpa and Gangnam, leading to temporary voting suspensions and some voters departing without casting their ballots.

Allegations of election fraud prompted protests at a Jamsil polling station in Songpa Ward, where demonstrators obstructed election officials from transporting ballot boxes to a counting center. The police intervened, dispersing the crowd and ensuring the transfer of approximately 2,000 ballots for counting.