[Report] "We Came Out Prepared to Sweat" — Protest Blocking Vote-Counting Site Continues Despite 91°F Heat

SEOUL, Financial News — Even on the 19th, when the heat index climbed above 91°F and an intense heat wave gripped the city, the protest at the vote-counting site in front of the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Olympic Park in Seoul, sparked by the ballot shortage, continued.
The protest around the gymnasium entered its 15th day. A police line was set up in front of Gate 1-3, where a man in his 30s caused a self-harm disturbance on the afternoon of the 17th, and police stood guard there. According to Seoul's real-time urban data, the number of people staying in Olympic Park stood at about 9,000 to 9,500 as of 2 p.m. People in their 60s and older accounted for the largest share at 24.8 percent, showing a different scene from last weekend's rally, which was led mainly by people in their 20s and 30s. Those in their 20s made up 15.1 percent, the second-lowest share after teenagers at 4.7 percent.
Even under the blazing sun, rally participants held their ground. Seoul Metropolitan Government said the previous day that a heat advisory had been issued for the city's southeastern and southwestern areas as of 2 p.m. They waved Taegeukgi and U.S. flags, sang the national anthem, and shouted slogans such as "Long live the Republic of Korea" and "Dismantle the NEC." They also repeatedly chanted "Rerun the election over fraud" and "Vote and count on the same day."
Because the weather was so hot that sweat poured down even while standing still, the crowd was smaller than usual. Still, participants tried various ways to beat the heat, fanning themselves constantly, using umbrellas, parasols, sunglasses, and portable fans decorated with Taegeukgi, and applying cooling patches. One participant shouted, "What kind of suffering is this because of the NEC? Give us our votes," while wiping away sweat. At a booth with a banner reading, "Let's win coolly! Let's eat ice cream and stay strong!" staff handed out ice cream and encouraged one another. Park, 83, who said he came from Jongno District in Seoul, said, "I came out during the day because I was worried fewer people would show up if it stayed this hot." He added firmly, "I came prepared to get heatstroke."

Citizens also showed determination to stay until the end, even if the rally drags on. Kim, in his 60s, who said he had spent the night in a tent since 10 p.m. the previous day, stressed, "I feel this is a serious situation because even the right to vote is not being guaranteed. I'm holding on as best I can, burning mosquito coils." He added, "Whether I'm at home or here, I can't sleep because I'm worried about the country, so I don't feel like this is especially hard." He went on to say, "I want to pass down a country where elections are held fairly to future generations." Park Gyu-tae, 75, who had a Taegeukgi tucked into his bag, said, "I might be less hot at home, but my blood pressure goes up and I can't stand it." He added, "When I come out here, sing with others, and shout slogans, it feels good because I feel alive."
As anger at the scene grew stronger, calls for a full investigation into the ballot shortage also gained momentum. On the 18th, the National Assembly held a plenary session and unanimously passed a motion for a parliamentary inquiry into the "ballot shortage in the 9th nationwide local elections and other violations of citizens' voting rights, as well as election administration reform." The special committee plans to determine the background behind the incident by August 1. Based on that, it is expected to push for sweeping reforms to the NEC's organizational and budget structure, as well as the overall election administration system.
Civil groups also issued statements one after another, increasing pressure. The Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice said, "We strongly urge the National Assembly to play a responsible and active role so that trust in the broken election administration can be restored and democracy in South Korea can stand upright again." It added, "The National Assembly must face the public's grave anger and thoroughly inspect the NEC's operations down to the district level." The group also said, "After using all available legislative tools to improve the system, if a structural gap in oversight still remains, then discussions on a 'one-point constitutional amendment' can begin in earnest."

jyseo@fnnews.com Seo Ji-yoon Reporter