Thousands protest in Seoul over ballot shortages, demand new vote

Protests over ballot shortages entered a second day on Saturday, June 6, in eastern Seoul, where thousands of demonstrators surrounded a vote-counting facility and called for a new election.

By 12:35 p.m., about 2,000 people had gathered outside the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Songpa Ward. Protesters alleged that Wednesday’s local elections were fraudulent and demanded that the results be annulled, as per Korean media.

Demonstrators blocked access points to the facility, effectively trapping an estimated 20 to 30 election officials inside. Around 400 police officers were deployed to the scene to maintain order. No clashes had been reported.

The unrest was triggered by a shortage of ballot papers at more than a dozen polling stations across Seoul on Wednesday, including in the districts of Songpa and Gangnam. The shortages forced temporary suspensions of voting, and some voters are believed to have left polling stations without casting their ballots.

Authorities transferred ballot boxes to the gymnasium on Friday morning for counting and storage. Since then, protesters have encircled the site, preventing officials from removing the boxes or leaving the premises.

Later the same day, National Election Commission Chairman Roh Tae-ak and Secretary General Heo Cheol-hoon offered their resignations amid mounting criticism over the handling of the vote.

The crowd continued to swell throughout the afternoon as tensions remained high around the facility.

By Tamilla Hasanova