"A Voter’s Ballot Stopped"... Student Councils from 18 Universities Issue Statement Condemning Ballot Paper Shortage

On the 39th Anniversary of the June 10 Democratic Uprising
Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Others Issue Joint Statements

In response to the ballot paper procurement disruption that occurred at some polling stations during the June 3 local elections, university communities have launched collective action.

On June 10, marking the 39th anniversary of the June 10 Democratic Uprising, major university student councils nationwide simultaneously issued statements condemning the mismanagement of the election process.

At Yonsei University in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, where the joint action and public declaration took place on the 10th, major university student councils criticized the shortage of ballots in the June 3 local elections and demanded measures be taken. Participants, including the Yonsei University Student Council Emergency Committee, held picketing. Photo by Yonhap News

This joint statement was supported by student self-governance bodies from 18 universities across the country, listed in alphabetical order: Konkuk University, Kyung Hee University, Korea University, Pusan National University, Sogang University, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul National University, University of Seoul, Sungkyunkwan University, Sookmyung Women's University, Soongsil University, Yonsei University, Chonnam National University, Jeonbuk National University, Chungbuk National University, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Hanyang University, and Hongik University.

These student organizations defined this disruption as a serious “violation of voting rights” that infringed upon the fundamental rights of the people. Accordingly, they presented four main demands: a thorough investigation into the causes of the ballot shortage and punishment for those responsible; remedies and preventive measures for the violation of voters’ rights; comprehensive organizational overhaul and structural reform of the National Election Commission; and the establishment of an independent election monitoring body led by young people, university students, and ordinary citizens.

At 6:00 p.m. that day, around 200 students gathered at the plaza in front of the Yonsei University Student Union Building in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, raising their voices to denounce the government and the National Election Commission.

Hwang Inseo, Chair of the Yonsei University Student Council Emergency Measures Committee, who took the stage, condemned the ballot shortage incident, stating, “It was the moment when the most basic rights of the people came to a halt in the face of the incompetence and irresponsibility of state institutions.” He went on to emphasize, “This is not about progressives versus conservatives, the ruling party versus the opposition, or which candidate or party was favored or disadvantaged. It is a matter of the rights of the people, the Constitution, and whether the Republic of Korea can remain a democratic republic.”

At the same time, a protest was also held at the Acropolis Plaza on the Gwanak campus of Seoul National University, led by the Council of College Student Presidents. The event was attended by about 150 students, including 18 student representatives from different colleges, who sang the school anthem and then read a declaration addressing the current situation.

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