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Protests in South Korea escalate with 'election fraud' theories and US far-right symbols

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Protesters demanding a rerun election have intensified their calls, now demanding the abolition of early voting and manual vote counting.
  • The demonstrations, initially focused on ballot shortages, have increasingly incorporated 'election fraud' theories, with some participants displaying American flags and 'MAGA' banners.
  • Organizers are urging legal action, including filing election complaints and seeking evidence preservation for ballots and CCTV footage.

Protests in Seoul, initially sparked by ballot shortages in the 6.3 local elections, have evolved into a platform for more extreme 'election fraud' theories. Demonstrators gathered outside the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium are now demanding the abolition of early voting and a return to manual vote counting, echoing conspiracy narratives.

We must drive out those who want to unify the slogans; why can't we shout 'election fraud'?

โ€” ProtesterExpressing frustration over perceived restrictions on protest slogans.

The shift in focus is evident, with 'election fraud' slogans now openly permitted, a change from earlier attempts to maintain a non-political stance. Online forums for protesters are rife with warnings against 'infiltrators' attempting to stifle the 'election fraud' narrative, highlighting a growing radicalization within the movement.

Those who try to limit the 'election fraud' slogan are leftists sent as provocateurs, so be careful.

โ€” Online Forum PostWarning other protesters about perceived infiltration.

Adding a peculiar international dimension, American flags and 'MAGA' (Make America Great Again) banners have become prominent. Two buses labeled 'Voter Cooling Center' displayed messages of solidarity from the U.S., and balloons with 'MAGA stands with South Korea' were seen. This suggests an attempt to align the South Korean protests with international far-right movements.

We are with you from America.

โ€” Voter Cooling Center BusDisplaying solidarity messages from the United States.

Legal avenues are also being pursued, with organizers encouraging participants to file election complaints within the stipulated 14-day window and to apply for preservation of evidence, including ballots and internal CCTV footage. The movement appears determined to leverage any available legal means to challenge the election results.

MAGA stands with South Korea.

โ€” Balloon DisplaySignifying alignment with the American far-right movement.
DistantNews Editorial

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