South Korea: Thousands rally for 3rd day demanding new election over ballot shortages

Seoul: Thousands of protesters continued to stage a rally near a vote-counting facility in eastern Seoul in South Korea for the third day Sunday, claiming last week’s local elections were fraudulent and demanding a new election.

According to an unofficial police estimate, approximately 3,000 people surrounded SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Songpa Ward as of noon. Police estimated a crowd of 30,000 had gathered the previous day.

Protesters are currently gathered at each of the eight entrances, keeping an eye on ballot boxes that remain inside the facility while chanting slogans calling for a do-over of the elections.

An estimated 20 to 30 officials who were said to have been trapped inside reportedly managed to leave early Saturday, though the National Election Commission (NEC) has refused to officially confirm the reports.

Protests have continued after ballot paper shortages were reported at more than a dozen polling stations across Seoul on Wednesday, including in Songpa and Gangnam, prompting temporary voting suspensions. Some voters were believed to have left without casting their ballots, reports Yonhap news agency.

NEC Chairman Roh Tae-ak and NEC Secretary General Heo Cheol-hoon offered their resignations Friday.

The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) also stepped up its call for a new election, proposing talks with President Lee Jae Myung to discuss the issue.

“At a time when the public is demanding a new election, it would be impossible to quell the mounting public anger that has spread like wildfire simply through a parliamentary probe, a special counsel probe recommended by the ruling party or replacing a few officials at the National Election Commission,” PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok said during a press conference at the National Assembly.

Describing the protests as an “orderly civil resistance movement,” Rep. Jang argued the situation has reached a point where it could no longer be ignored.

“I demand an immediate meeting with President Lee Jae Myung,” he said, warning the president will face greater public resistance if he leaves for a scheduled trip to Europe this week without addressing the issue.

Last week, Lee offered what could be viewed as a rare criticism of the NEC, expressing “immense regret” over the incident. He urged relevant authorities to use all available means to determine the exact cause of the problem and seek accountability if necessary.

IANS