(LEAD) Protest over ballot shortage continues for 5th day

Lead

Protesters in Seoul rallied for a fifth consecutive day Tuesday outside a vote-counting facility, demanding a re-run of last week's local elections over ballot shortages at some polling stations, according to Yonhap News Agency. The demonstrations, centered on SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Songpa Ward, have drawn thousands over the weekend and have now spread to disrupt the operations of national sports organizations housed in the same building.

Coverage

Ongoing Protests and Demands

As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, some 200 protesters surrounded the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium, according to an unofficial police estimate, Yonhap reported. That number was sharply down from about 2,000 on Monday afternoon. Over the weekend, tens of thousands of people had amassed at the stadium to protest the ballot shortages and block election officials from removing ballot boxes, the news agency said.

The protests began after ballot paper shortages temporarily suspended voting at 26 polling stations nationwide on Wednesday, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). A separate Yonhap report on Saturday said that around 10,000 citizens had gathered at the stadium as of 5:30 p.m., citing an unofficial police estimate, and that voting had been suspended at 22 stations due to delays in receiving supplies. The NEC did not immediately confirm the figures.

Protesters have demanded a new election, with some carrying signs reading "Stop the steal," Yonhap reported. Under South Korean election law, a petition must be filed with the election watchdog to invalidate a local election and call a new one; if rejected, the decision can be challenged in court. The minor New Reform Party has said it intends to file a petition to partially invalidate the election results, according to Yonhap.

Leadership Resignations and Police Investigation

The head of the NEC, Chairman Roh Tae-ak, and Secretary General Heo Cheol-hoon offered their resignations on Saturday, Yonhap reported, following the ballot shortages. The chairman's resignation was also noted in a separate Yonhap report on June 9, which said the NEC head had resigned "due to the ballot shortages." The head of the Songpa Police Station also expressed willingness to resign Tuesday, citing worsening preexisting conditions, according to the National Police Agency, as reported by Yonhap.

Police have stepped up their investigation into the ballot shortages, requesting that NEC officials in charge of wards that experienced shortages appear for questioning, according to a Yonhap report on June 9.

Impact on Sports Federations

The protests have paralyzed operations of sports organizations based at the stadium, including the Korea Handball Association and the Korea Underwater Association, Yonhap reported. A Korea Underwater Association official said the blockade has disrupted preparations for the 2026 CMAS World Championship Finswimming Indoor, scheduled to open in Incheon, just west of Seoul, on June 22.

On June 15, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) demanded government action, with its president, Ryu Seung-min, holding a press conference joined by representatives from the affected federations, according to Yonhap. The KSOC said protesters have blocked entry to offices for nine national sports federations housed inside the ballot counting site, preventing employees from entering. The Korean Fencing Federation has been unable to bring equipment to athletes competing in the Asian championships starting this week in India, and fencers have been forced to borrow swords, Yonhap reported.

Protesters have refused to budge, accusing sports officials of trying to sneak out ballot boxes, and some have been accused of searching through personal belongings of youth handball players, the report said.

Key Claims

• Ballot shortages temporarily suspended voting at 26 polling stations nationwide on Wednesday, according to the NEC (reported by Yonhap).
• Tens of thousands of people gathered at the stadium over the weekend, and about 200 protesters remained on Tuesday morning, according to unofficial police estimates (reported by Yonhap).
• The NEC Chairman and Secretary General offered their resignations (reported by Yonhap).
• Police have requested questioning of NEC officials over the shortages (reported by Yonhap).
• The New Reform Party intends to file a petition to partially invalidate the election results (reported by Yonhap).
• The protests have disrupted preparations for the 2026 CMAS World Championship Finswimming Indoor in Incheon (reported by Yonhap).
• The KSOC has called for government action to resolve the blockade of sports federation offices (reported by Yonhap).

Perspectives

Protesters claim the ballot shortages indicate electoral fraud and are demanding a re-run of the elections. They have refused to leave the counting site, blocking officials and sports employees, and some have been accused of searching personal belongings.

Election officials, including NEC Chairman Roh Tae-ak and Secretary General Heo Cheol-hoon, have resigned amid criticism. The NEC has not publicly commented on the fraud allegations, but police are investigating the shortages.

Sports bodies, including the KSOC and the affected federations such as the Korea Underwater Association and the Korean Fencing Federation, are urging government action to clear the blockade, citing severe disruptions to their operations and upcoming international competitions.