{
  "id": 850952,
  "title": "Two candidates shortlisted for special counsel investigating ballot shortages",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/two-candidates-shortlisted-for-special-counsel-investigating-ballot",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-14T08:22:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/politics/20260814/two-candidates-shortlisted-for-special-counsel-investigating-ballot-shortages"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Two former prosecutors have been chosen as candidates for a special counsel to investigate ballot shortages following the June 3 elections, a bipartisan committee announced. Lee Tae-han and Lee Hyuk, both prosecutor-turned-lawyers, were recommended unanimously by the committee, which comprised representatives from the Korean Bar Association and the Association of Korean Law Schools. The two individuals will now be recommended to President Lee Jae Myung, who has three days to appoint one of them as special counsel. The chosen special counsel will have a 20-day window to prepare for the investigation, with a full-scale probe anticipated to commence early next month. The investigation will focus on allegations of mishandling ballot papers by the National Election Commission, a process that could extend up to 90 days, with two 30-day extensions possible.",
  "summary": "The Korea Times reports that two former prosecutors, Lee Tae-han and Lee Hyuk, have been selected as candidates for a special counsel to investigate ballot shortages during the June 3 elections. The bipartisan recommendation committee unanimously chose the two from a list of six candidates recommended by the Korean Bar Association and the Association of Korean Law Schools. The appointed special counsel, who will be recommended to President Lee Jae Myung, will have up to 20 days to prepare for the investigation, with the full-scale probe expected to begin early next month. The investigation will focus on allegations of mismanagement of ballot papers by the National Election Commission, with a period of up to 90 days to complete the investigation, extendable twice by 30 days each.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yonhap News",
        "title": "Two candidates shortlisted for special counsel investigating ballot shortages",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/two-candidates-shortlisted-for-special-counsel-investigating-ballot-852697",
        "published": "2026-08-14T07:36:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Two candidates shortlisted for special counsel investigating ballot shortages",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/two-candidates-shortlisted-for-special-counsel-investigating-ballot-851879",
        "published": "2026-08-14T08:32:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}