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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Police Disperse Jamsil Polling Station Protesters, Ballot Boxes Moved After Three Days

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • Police dispersed protesters who had blocked a polling station in Jamsil 7-dong, Seoul, for three days, allowing ballot boxes to be moved.
  • The protest was led by individuals promoting theories of election fraud, who had prevented the transfer of ballot boxes after voting concluded.
  • The situation at the Jamsil polling station became a focal point due to a shortage of ballots, leading to extended voting hours and subsequent protests by election fraud proponents.

Police have successfully dispersed a group of protesters who had been blocking a polling station in Jamsil 7-dong, Seoul, for three days. The operation allowed for the removal of two ballot boxes that had been prevented from being transported to the counting center since the end of voting in the June 3 local elections.

The protesters were primarily supporters of election fraud theories. They had gathered at the Jamsil 7-dong polling station (Polling Station No. 2) to prevent the ballot boxes from being moved. Police deployed approximately 1,000 riot police officers early on the morning of the 5th to clear the site. As police surrounded the area, protesters linked arms, forming a 'scrum,' and chanted slogans like "Let's protect the ballot boxes" and "We are protecting the country."

Please cooperate in securing the passage for ballot boxes. Assaulting police officers may result in legal punishment.

— Police WarningIssued to protesters blocking the polling station.

When police began advancing towards the rear entrance of the polling station around 8:15 AM, protesters lay down, linking arms, leading to physical confrontations. Police repeatedly issued warnings, urging cooperation and reminding individuals that assaulting police officers could lead to legal consequences.

Let's protect the ballot boxes.

— ProtestersChanted during the confrontation with police.

The Jamsil polling station became a center of controversy during the June 3 local elections due to a shortage of ballots, which extended voting hours until 10 PM. Following the extended voting, proponents of election fraud theories converged on the location. Prominent figures associated with these theories, including Korean history instructor Jeon Han-gil and Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Freedom and Innovation Party, were present. Their actions in blocking the polling station prevented the transfer of two ballot boxes, containing approximately 2,000 votes, thus delaying the finalization of election results, including the Seoul mayoral race.

Following the police dispersal at 8:57 AM, election commission officials were able to retrieve the ballot boxes and transport them via a yellow bus. The incident highlights the tensions surrounding election integrity and the challenges authorities face in managing protests related to such concerns.

Representative Hwang Kyo-ahn said to form a good scrum. We are protecting the country.

— ProtestersEncouraging each other during the protest.
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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