South Korea’s National Election Commission (NEC) allocated 14.5 billion won for printing ballots for the June 3 local elections. However, the actual amount spent on ballot printing totaled 8.2 billion won – less than half of the initial budget. The discrepancy has raised questions regarding budget management and resource allocation within the NEC. While the NEC secured sufficient funds, the lower-than-expected printing volume suggests potential overestimation of required ballots. Details regarding the reasons for the significant difference between the allocated and spent funds have not yet been fully disclosed. This situation prompts scrutiny of the NEC’s planning processes for future elections. Further investigation may be needed to determine if the remaining funds will be reallocated or accounted for differently.