South Korea’s National Election Commission (NEC) failed to disclose a previous shortage of voting ballots during the presidential election when deciding to reduce ballot printing quantities for recent local elections. The internal decision to lower counts was made without informing an internal task force, raising questions about transparency and preparedness. This occurred despite the previous presidential election experiencing issues with ballot availability leading to voter frustrations. Sources indicate the NEC did not share details of the earlier shortfall, potentially influencing the decision-making process for the local polls. Critics are now questioning if the NEC adequately learned from past errors and if voter access was potentially compromised. The incident raises concerns over the commission’s communication and risk management protocols. The NEC has yet to offer a full explanation for its actions.