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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

‘Martial law was right’ and ‘Yoon Again’: Rallies demand rerun election

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Protests demanding a rerun of the June 3 local elections continued over the weekend across South Korea.
  • Demonstrators claim the elections were fraudulent, citing issues like insufficient ballots and alleged manipulation.
  • Protesters have surrounded a vote-counting center in Seoul, preventing election officials from leaving.

Protests demanding a rerun of the June 3 local elections intensified across South Korea over the weekend, fueled by allegations of fraud and mishandled procedures. The demonstrations, which began in response to a shortage of ballots, have now coalesced with broader "election fraud conspiracy theories."

In Seoul, the "Movement to Restore the Republic of Korea," led by Rev. Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, held a large rally near Gwanghwamun Station. Participants waved signs with slogans such as "Election fraud is the death of democracy" and "Invalidate the election, immediate rerun." During the rally, speakers mixed claims of ballot shortages and fraud conspiracies with calls for "Yoon Again," referring to President Yoon Suk-yeol.

Yoon Suk-yeol's martial law was correct. Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon's prophecy came true. We have won.

— Rally speakerA speaker at the Gwanghwamun rally expressed support for President Yoon Suk-yeol and claimed prophetic validation.

One speaker on the rally stage declared, "President Yoon Suk-yeol's martial law was correct. Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon's prophecy came true. We have won." Another man urged the crowd to "protect only Yoon Suk-yeol, the person who knows best about election fraud and can reveal it," echoing the "Yoon Again" chant.

Meanwhile, a "vote-counting blockade protest" continued outside the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in Seoul, where ballots from a delayed count were processed. Protesters gathered since the ballot boxes were moved on Saturday morning and, as of Sunday afternoon, had blocked all entrances for 27 hours, demanding a rerun. An estimated 20 to 30 National Election Commission officials were believed to be isolated inside the building. The crowd, which peaked at 6,000-7,000 people Saturday night, dwindled to hundreds Sunday morning but began to swell again in the afternoon. Clashes occurred as protesters demanded identification from citizens and journalists attempting to enter or leave the building, leading to altercations. A JTBC reporter was reportedly surrounded, verbally abused, and physically pushed when attempting to exit the building through a window Saturday evening.

protect only Yoon Suk-yeol, the person who knows best about election fraud and can reveal it

— Rally speakerAnother speaker at the rally identified President Yoon Suk-yeol as the key figure to uncover alleged election fraud.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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