Police disperse protestors at polling station, acquire ballot boxes
Tensions surrounding South Korea’s recent local elections continued in Seoul as police dispersed hundreds of protesters who had occupied a polling station in Jamsil-dong, Songpa-gu. The confrontation followed reports of ballot shortages during Wednesday’s vote, which triggered public anger and calls for a revote.
Police deployed mobile units early Friday morning after a 35-hour standoff between authorities and demonstrators. Protesters had blocked access to ballot boxes and held election officials at the site. Officers eventually entered the polling station and removed two ballot boxes containing around 2,000 votes, sending them to the National Election Commission for counting.
The protests involved as many as 1,400 people at their peak, many of whom were supporters of the conservative bloc. Although conservative candidate Oh Se-hoon ultimately defeated Democratic Party candidate Chong Won-o by more than 50,000 votes, the result could not be officially confirmed until all ballots were processed.
Despite the apparent victory, some protesters continued to claim election fraud, arguing that the ballot boxes were “evidence of rigging.” After being dispersed, some demonstrators reportedly returned to the site to search for materials they believed could support their claims, while others planned further protests at the National Election Commission headquarters in Gwacheon.
The situation also disrupted local residents, as the polling station was located in an apartment complex. Residents complained about loud noise from protests, blocked parking areas, and general disturbance, especially during a period when students were taking important national exams. Authorities said they would review the incident and ensure proper management of future voting procedures to restore public trust.
Edited using generative AI tools.
Source :https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10764162
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