(Seoul, 7 June) South Korean citizens continue to protest over a ballot shortage incident in certain districts during the local elections, demanding a re-election and a thorough investigation.
Yonhap News Agency, citing unofficial police estimates, reported that about 10,000 people gathered Saturday night (June 6) at the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul, the vote-counting venue for the local elections, to demand a new election.
The protest lasted until early Sunday (June 7) at 2 a.m. (1 a.m. Sunday Singapore time), when at least 1,000 people still remained on site. Many were young people in their twenties and thirties, some even bringing their pets.
The protesters waved large South Korean national flags, chanting “Re-elect, re-elect.” Some protesters sat on picnic mats, holding the national flag and keeping vigil through the night.
Young volunteers distributed drinking water, coffee, and chocolate at the scene.
One protester told an AFP reporter: “Regardless of political stance, being unable to vote in a free democratic system is a violation of our rights.”
The 9th local council and local government leadership elections, along with the parliamentary by-elections, concluded on Wednesday (June 3), but some voting stations in Seoul’s Songpa District and Gangnam District experienced ballot shortages, causing many voters to wait.
Authorities stated that only 50% of the total eligible voters’ number of ballots were printed for this election, and an increase in early voter turnout resulted in a large quantity of ballots left unused.
Central Election Management Committee Chairman Noh Tae-wook held a press conference on Friday (June 5) to apologize to the public and announced his resignation. Nevertheless, public dissatisfaction did not subside, and demonstrations continued over the weekend.
At Friday morning’s protest, riot police dispersed demonstrators. Videos on social media showed officers dragging an elderly man on the ground and clashing with protesters.
The protest lasted until early Sunday (June 7) at 2 a.m. (1 a.m. Sunday Singapore time), when at least 1,000 people still remained on site. Many were young people in their twenties and thirties, some even bringing their pets.
The protesters waved large South Korean national flags, chanting “Re-elect, re-elect.” Some protesters sat on picnic mats, holding the national flag and keeping vigil through the night.
Young volunteers distributed drinking water, coffee, and chocolate at the scene.
One protester told an AFP reporter: “Regardless of political stance, being unable to vote in a free democratic system is a violation of our rights.”
The 9th local council and local government leadership elections, along with the parliamentary by-elections, concluded on Wednesday (June 3), but some voting stations in Seoul’s Songpa District and Gangnam District experienced ballot shortages, causing many voters to wait.
Authorities stated that only 50% of the total eligible voters’ number of ballots were printed for this election, and an increase in early voter turnout resulted in a large quantity of ballots left unused.
Central Election Management Committee Chairman Noh Tae-wook held a press conference on Friday (June 5) to apologize to the public and announced his resignation. Nevertheless, public dissatisfaction did not subside, and demonstrations continued over the weekend.
At Friday morning’s protest, riot police dispersed demonstrators. Videos on social media showed officers dragging an elderly man on the ground and clashing with protesters.