▲ Protests demanding a rerun of the June 3 local elections, marred by ballot paper shortages, continue outside SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul's southern ward of Songpa on June 27, 2026. (Yonhap)

ballot shortage-protest

Protests over ballot shortage continue for 23rd day

SEOUL, June 27 (Yonhap) -- Protests demanding a rerun of the June 3 local elections marred by ballot shortages continued for the 23rd consecutive day Saturday.

Participants chanted slogans claiming election fraud and calling for a rerun outside the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southern Seoul, which served as a ballot counting site.

As of 8 p.m. some 22,000-24,000 people were estimated to be in the Olympic Park area, with 21.5 percent of them being in their 60s, according to Seoul city data. The figure also includes pedestrians and public transportation users in the area as well as fans attending a concert by K-pop boy band TWS.

The protests began June 5, two days after ballot shortages temporarily suspended voting at 26 polling stations across the nation. Protesters have blockaded the stadium in a bid to prevent the removal of ballot boxes inside.

While the election watchdog has apologized for the ballot shortages, it says they do not warrant a rerun under the election law. A joint team of police investigators and prosecutors has been investigating the shortages.

Meanwhile, a group of young protesters held a separate rally from 6:40 p.m. near Hongik University subway station in western Seoul, calling for a rerun of the election. Organizers estimated some 500 people to take part.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]