"Election Fraud" "Invalidate the Count": All-Night Standoff at Jamsil 7-dong as Ballot Boxes Blocked... 470 Police Deployed

Voting Extended by 4 Hours in Jamsil 7-dong Due to Ballot Shortage
Hundreds of Citizens and YouTubers Gather to Protest Alleged Election Fraud

On June 3, the day of the 9th nationwide simultaneous local elections, an overnight standoff continued at the Second Voting Station in Jamsil 7-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, where a shortage of ballot papers had occurred. The police deployed nearly 500 personnel, including members of the riot squad.

According to the police on June 4, approximately 470 officers had been deployed to the Second Voting Station in Jamsil 7-dong as of 3:00 a.m. Hundreds of people, including citizens and conservative YouTubers, gathered at the entrance of an apartment complex, chanting slogans such as "fraudulent election," "stop ballot counting," and "invalidate the vote." The police unofficially estimated the crowd at between 200 and 300 people.

Citizens opposing the removal of ballot boxes are chanting slogans all night in front of the Second Voting Station in Jamsil 7-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

The Second Voting Station in Jamsil 7-dong is one of 14 polling stations in Seoul where a shortage of ballot papers occurred. Some residents who were unable to vote by 6:00 p.m. the previous day were given waiting tickets, and voting continued until 10:00 p.m. Although voting had ended, ballot counting could not proceed as citizens blocked the removal of ballot boxes.

At around 12:30 a.m., the police first deployed 50 members of the riot squad to redirect vehicles attempting to enter the voting station or nearby roads. As the confrontation escalated, the number of officers at the scene was significantly increased.

At about 4:30 a.m., the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission issued a statement saying, "We stand with the National Election Commission," but added, "We will not forcibly transport the ballot boxes from the Second Voting Station in Jamsil 7-dong." The commission explained that, due to concerns about possible physical clashes at the scene, they would not attempt removal by force. However, they also maintained that transporting the ballot boxes is inevitable in order to complete the ballot counting process. The commission clarified that it has not withdrawn its intention to proceed with the transfer.

Earlier, Jaeseop Kim, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, visited the polling station to mediate, followed by fellow party member Eunhye Kim, who strongly protested. Arriving at about 12:40 a.m., Assemblywoman Kim criticized, "Bringing ballot papers and voting machines late to areas unfavorable to them is what the Maduro regime did in Venezuela." After meeting with officials from the election commission, Assemblyman Kim remarked, "The actions of the election commission seriously infringe upon the right to vote and the right of citizens to participate in politics, which are guaranteed by the Constitution," and pointed out that it constitutes "a severe violation of fair elections."

Meanwhile, in Gwanghwamun Square, Jongno-gu, Seoul, protesters claiming that "this election is fraudulent" held rallies. This group, initially assembled in response to a personal broadcast by Han-Gil Jeon, a YouTuber and former Korean history instructor, relocated their protest site to the National Election Commission in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, as he designated it as the gathering place.

The National Election Commission, in a public apology at 9:00 p.m. the previous day, stated, "In the case of Songpa-gu, we printed ballot papers for 50% of all eligible voters," adding, "We need to investigate why there was a shortage, given that there were also early voters."

Meanwhile, the Citizens' Committee for Livelihood Countermeasures filed a police complaint against the National Election Commission's Chairman Taeak Noh and Secretary General Cheolhun Heo, as well as the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission's Chairman Minseok Oh and Secretary General Beomjin Kim, on charges of abuse of authority and dereliction of duty.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.