Jang Dong-hyuk, Hwang Kyo-ahn attempt to enter Songpa vote counting center

Jang Dong-hyuk, leader of the People's Power Party, attempted to enter the vote counting center at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in Songpa, Seoul, on June 5, marking his first public activity after the party's defeat in the June 3 local elections. The center was handling ballots from the Jamsil 7-dong second polling station, where counting was delayed due to a shortage of ballot papers.

As Jang arrived around 10:30 a.m., protesters alleging fraudulent voting had gathered, chanting slogans such as "Stop the illegal counting." Despite his attempts to enter the counting facility, he was denied access. Addressing the crowd through a megaphone, Jang apologized for being unable to prevent the ballot box removal and vowed to "fight properly" from that point forward. He announced his intention to visit the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission and the National Election Commission in Gwacheon before returning to the counting center.

Meanwhile, Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Freedom and Innovation Party, also arrived at the Songpa counting center with his supporters. They chanted "Stop the illegal counting" and attempted to enter the facility. When police blocked their entry, Hwang protested, engaging in a standoff with officers and questioning whether the situation represented a "dictatorship or a democracy."

The scene at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium highlighted the intense political atmosphere following the local elections, with allegations of irregularities fueling protests and confrontations at key vote-counting locations.