Protesters blockade Seoul vote-counting site for second day over alleged fraud

Protesters alleging election fraud have maintained a blockade of a vote-counting site at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in Seoul for a second consecutive day. The demonstrations are a response to a ballot shortage during the June 3 local elections, which caused delays in the counting process.

On June 6, demonstrators continued to block the entrance to the venue, chanting demands for a new election. Approximately 20 to 30 election commission officials are believed to be confined inside the building. While the crowd size initially decreased from a peak of 6,000-7,000 the previous night to several hundred, it began to increase again by the afternoon.

The protests have gained momentum, with further demonstrations planned. Kim Min-soo, a supreme council member of the People Power Party, announced a rally in front of the former presidential office Cheong Wa Dae for the afternoon of June 6. Additionally, historian and YouTuber Jeon Han-gil is scheduled to hold a rally in front of the National Election Commission in Gwacheon later that evening.

The situation has led to disruptions beyond the election commission's site. With K-pop concerts scheduled at a nearby venue, organizers have begun advising attendees on alternative routes to navigate the area, indicating the broader impact of the ongoing protests.