Voter assaults election worker after being redirected at polling station

South Korea's 9th nationwide local elections saw early reports of disturbances and assaults at polling stations on election day. By 9 a.m., Seoul police had received 33 emergency calls related to polling stations in the capital.

In Dongdaemun, Seoul, a 64-year-old man was reported to have shouted and caused a disturbance after being prevented from leaving the polling station with his marked ballot. Election rules strictly prohibit the removal of ballots from polling stations, regardless of whether they have been marked.

Another incident occurred in Guro, Seoul, where a 60-year-old individual allegedly assaulted an election worker. The suspect reportedly became agitated and grabbed the worker's arm after being redirected to the correct polling station. Unlike early voting, which allows participation at any station, the main election requires voters to cast their ballots at their designated local polling place.

Police plan to investigate both men involved in these incidents. The early morning turnout for the main election stood at 7.4% by 9 a.m., which is higher than the 6.0% recorded at the same time during the 2022 local elections.