Board of Audit and Inspection Launches Accounting Audit of National Election Commission

The Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) has launched an accounting audit of the National Election Commission (NEC) in connection with the recent shortage of ballots for the June 3 local elections. This audit is being conducted to verify the proper use of election management costs and enhance transparency. BAI Chairperson Kim Ho-cheol stated at a press conference on June 24 that "public concern is high" and that the BAI began collecting data for the accounting audit after a resolution by the audit committee. Following data collection, the BAI plans to conduct an on-site audit in July.

The BAI explained that while it cannot conduct disciplinary oversight of the NEC, an independent constitutional body, as per a Constitutional Court decision, conducting accounting audits is a statutory duty under the BAI Act. The BAI plans to focus on the NEC's budget formulation and operation, contract management, procurement, management and preservation of supplies, and accounting processes. It is also possible that the BAI will investigate allegations of splitting sole-source contracts among specific companies.

Meanwhile, the joint investigation headquarters by the prosecution and police, which is investigating the ballot shortage incident, conducted searches and seizures of 12 officials from the Seoul and Songpa district NEC offices on the same day.