Backlash Over Ballot Paper Shortage: Standoff Over Removal of Ballot Boxes in Jamsil Continues Into the Morning

2 in Songpa-gu, Seoul, where a ballot paper shortage occurred during the June 3 local elections, on the morning of the 4th. Photo by Reporter Choi Seung-han [Financial News] An overnight standoff over the removal of ballot boxes continued into the morning of the 4th in front of Jamsil 7-dong Polling Place No. 2 in Songpa-gu, Seoul, where a ballot paper shortage occurred during the June 3 local elections. The two ballot boxes from the polling place, where voting had been extended until 10 p. m. the previous day, had still not been moved to the counting center even after the morning commute had passed.
At around 9:20 a. m. that day, some protesters, including conservative-leaning citizens and YouTubers, remained in front of Jamsil 7-dong Polling Place No. 2, set up at the senior center of Woosung Apartment in Songpa-gu, and continued the standoff. Citizens holding Taegeukgi flags stood around the entrance, while some watched the vote count broadcast and YouTube livestreams on their phones. They shouted slogans such as "Stop the count," "Invalidate the election," "Rho Tae-ak, step down," and "Dismantle the NEC," demanding a rerun.
Some apartment residents also joined in blocking the removal of the ballot boxes. One resident, identified as A, said, "The election result is not the issue right now," adding, "The fairness that is the essence of an election has been severely undermined, and the fact that there was a shortage of ballot papers is itself incomprehensible. " At around 9:40 a. m. , as the standoff eased somewhat without physical clashes, protesters stationed people at the back entrance of the polling place to monitor whether the ballot boxes would be removed.
At Jamsil 7-dong Polling Place No. 2, voting had been extended from 6 p. m. to 10 p. m.
only for voters who had received waiting numbers because of the ballot paper shortage the previous day. The NEC estimates that the two ballot boxes from the site contain votes from about 2,000 people. However, after voting ended, protesters objected to the transfer of the ballot boxes, and the removal did not take place. The overnight standoff also caused inconvenience for residents. As protesters stayed inside and around the apartment complex, vehicle traffic was delayed, and each time cars tried to leave during the morning rush, some participants were seen clearing the way.
Police were also deployed to maintain order around the polling place. The National Election Commission said the ballot paper shortage does not qualify as grounds for postponing an election or holding a by-election under the Public Official Election Act. The NEC stated, "The ongoing count cannot be stopped, and the ballot boxes from the polling place must be transferred to the counting center. " However, the Seoul Metropolitan City Election Commission said it would not force the transfer of the ballot boxes from Jamsil 7-dong Polling Place No. 2, citing concerns over possible physical clashes.
Related reports filed with the police also continued. According to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, 135 reports to 112 concerning Jamsil 7-dong Polling Place No. 2 were received from 6 p. m. on the 3rd to 5 a.Photo by Reporter Choi Seung-han
425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter