Ballot Box Transfer Blocked as Protest Continues at Seoul Polling Station

A tense standoff persists at the second polling station in Jamsil 7-dong, Seoul, as citizens continue to block the transfer of ballot boxes. The protest, which began the night before, centers on allegations of election fraud following a ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections. This shortage had previously forced an extension of voting hours until 10 p.m. at this specific station.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered overnight, though their numbers have somewhat decreased. Despite the reduced crowd, two ballot boxes remain at the polling station, preventing their transport to the counting center. The National Election Commission estimates that these boxes contain votes from approximately 2,000 residents. Protesters, chanting slogans like "Nullify the election" and "Stop the count," have occupied the area since the previous night to prevent the boxes from being moved.

The National Election Commission convened an emergency meeting early Tuesday morning. They issued a statement asserting that the situation does not meet the criteria for postponing the election or holding a re-election under the Public Official Election Act. Police reported receiving 135 emergency calls related to the polling station between 6 p.m. Monday and 5 a.m. Tuesday.

Images from the scene show citizens holding signs and participating in protests, demanding transparency and fairness in the electoral process. The ongoing dispute highlights deep-seated concerns among some voters regarding the integrity of the election, stemming from the earlier ballot shortage incident.