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🇰🇷 South Korea /Elections & Politics

Protest Over Ballot Shortages Intensifies with 'Election Fraud' Claims

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • A protest demanding a rerun of the June 3 local elections has entered its eighth day, with participants increasingly embracing 'election fraud' theories.
  • The protest, initially focused on ballot paper shortages, now features a significant presence of US flags and slogans, alongside Korean flags.
  • Authorities are investigating alleged illegal activities by protesters, including coercion and assault, against sports teams and journalists.

A protest against alleged irregularities in the June 3 local elections has escalated, entering its eighth day with participants increasingly vocal about 'election fraud' theories. The demonstration, initially sparked by a shortage of ballot papers, has seen a growing display of American flags alongside Korean flags, reflecting a shift in the protest's tone and symbolism.

The central election commission lost ballot paper storage boxes, and we have secured them through tips.

— Jeon Han-gilDuring a press conference at the protest site, claiming to have obtained evidence of election irregularities.

Initially, organizers sought to exclude overt political affiliations, allowing only "rerun election" slogans and Korean flags. However, the presence of US flags has become more prominent, with some protesters asserting that the US will help uncover the alleged fraud. Slogans like "Stop the Steal" and "US-Korea Alliance!" are visible, alongside messages supporting former President Yoon Suk-yeol and calling for the impeachment of Lee Jae-myung.

The demographic of protesters has also shifted, with a noticeable increase in middle-aged and elderly participants. On June 12, individuals over 60 constituted the largest age group among the estimated 10,000 people in the vicinity. The atmosphere within the protest has become less tolerant of dissent, with altercations reported between participants with differing views.

How much manipulation and fraud has there been? We must examine the election commission's servers.

— Jeon Han-gilAddressing the crowd and amplifying claims of widespread election fraud.

Adding to the fervor, conservative YouTuber Jeon Han-gil held a press conference claiming to have obtained a "lost ballot paper storage box." He asserted that the election commission's servers must be examined to reveal the extent of alleged fraud and called for a "second revolution" if the government does not comply with demands for a rerun. Meanwhile, police are investigating multiple instances of alleged illegal activities, including coercion and assault, by protesters against members of the junior women's handball team and journalists.

If the government does not accept the demand for a full rerun election, the youth here will bring about a second revolution, following the April 19 Revolution of 1960.

— Jeon Han-gilInciting protesters to action and drawing parallels to historical uprisings.
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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