The head of South Korea’s election commission has resigned after ballot paper shortages disrupted voting in several districts during the country’s local elections.
The shortages, reported at multiple polling stations on Wednesday, caused delays and temporary suspensions of voting as officials struggled to cope with voter turnout using limited ballot supplies.
The disruption sparked public criticism, with some voters reporting long queues, confusion and difficulties casting their ballots within scheduled voting hours.
The election commission chief accepted responsibility for the logistical failure, describing the incident as a breakdown in planning and coordination.
Announcing his resignation, he said stepping down was necessary to demonstrate accountability and help restore public confidence in the electoral process.
He also pledged that the commission would carry out a comprehensive review of ballot distribution systems and election day logistics to prevent a recurrence.
Authorities have launched an internal investigation to determine whether the shortages resulted from planning errors, misallocation of materials or wider supply chain problems.
The incident has fueled calls from political parties and civil society groups for greater transparency in how ballots are printed, distributed and monitored during elections.
The National Election Commission says it will fully cooperate with the investigation as pressure grows for reforms aimed at improving the management of future national and local elections.
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