"We Will Guard the Door All Night": Protest Enters Its Second Week as Mosquito Nets Appear at Jamsil Vote-Counting Site

[Financial News] The protest in Songpa District, Seoul, triggered by a shortage of ballots in the June 3 local elections, has continued for a week. What began at Jamsil 7-dong Polling Place No. 2 moved to the vote-counting site at SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Bangi-dong, and as it entered its second weekday there, the protest showed signs of becoming prolonged.
Around 11 a.m. that day, about 500 protesters were stationed around the gymnasium, divided among its various entrances. They chanted slogans such as "A rerun election for election fraud" and "Hand-count ballots cast on election day." The slogans, which had centered on demands for a rerun election over the weekend, appeared to be broadening over time into calls for changes to voting methods and vote-counting procedures.
As the protest dragged on, the scene became increasingly routine. Protesters ate meals of kimbap, ramen, and chocolate, while parasols and cooling supplies were placed throughout the area to beat the heat. Hot packs, insect repellent, and even mosquito nets appeared for those staying overnight. Near the gymnasium, four large air-conditioned buses with U.S. flag banners were parked, along with a coffee truck. Visitors walking in the park with pets and children also stopped to closely examine the signs posted around the vote-counting site.
At each entrance, some participants were also seen staying through the night with mosquito nets and other supplies set up. One protester in his 40s, identified only as A, said, "It is physically exhausting, but I think we have to raise the issue somehow," adding, "We cannot just let the shortage of ballots slide."
However, disputes among participants that began in the early days of the protest continued as well. On the morning of the 10th, staff from the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) attempted to enter offices inside the gymnasium, but some protesters strongly objected, forcing them to turn back. At the scene, opinions were sharply divided between those saying, "People coming to work should be allowed in," and those insisting, "No one should be allowed into the vote-counting site." Some participants also demanded identity checks and escort monitoring for anyone entering.
Work disruptions have also continued for sports organizations with offices inside the gymnasium. Since the previous day, officials from those organizations had tried to enter their offices, but access was not smooth because of resistance from protesters. Police have deployed personnel to the site to prepare for any unexpected incidents.
Meanwhile, the Seoul Eastern District Court is scheduled to visit Jamsil 7-dong Polling Place No. 2, where the ballot shortage occurred, at 3 p.m. that day to conduct an on-site inspection and evidence preservation procedures.
Student councils from major universities nationwide are also set to hold a joint statement at 6 p.m. on their respective campuses, condemning the ballot shortage and calling for structural reform of the NEC.

425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter