Lawmakers finally inspect Seoul vote-counting center after 27-day blockade

Day 27 of the protest against the shortage of ballots during the June 3 local elections, and lawmakers finally managed to break past the protesters to begin a long-awaited field investigation inside southern Seoul's polling center.

At 10 a.m., lawmakers of the National Assembly's special committee on the ballot shortage visited the Songpa District’s election commission office and the vote-counting center later in the day. The vote-counting venue is Olympic Handball Gymnasium, which is located inside the Olympic Park in Songpa District, southern Seoul. 

The committee's 18 lawmakers first received a briefing from local election officials on routine election management — how authorities responded to the ballot shortage on election day, the vote-counting process, the current status of the counting center and plans to transfer ballots stored inside the gymnasium. The facility has been storing ballots from No. 2 polling station in Jamsil 7-dong, which were transported there on June 5.

Some 200 protesters were swarmed around Gate 2-1 of the stadium at 10 a.m.

“We demand a public-led special counsel on the election commission,” they shouted.

"Rigged election, A-WEB," the other protesters chanted. A-WEB refers to the Association of World Election Bodies, an international election organization founded in 2013 at the initiative of Korea's National Election Commission (NEC).

At around 10:20 a.m., a scuffle broke out among protesters guarding the entrance. Police officers and paramedics later intervened.

“Don’t provoke the young people by beating the drum,” one protester said through a loudspeaker as the other person started beating a drum.

"We must not repeat what happened at the Seoul Western District Court,” the protester said. In January last year, supporters of ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol stormed the courthouse in protest of an arrest warrant issued against him.

A scramble broke out after some protesters shouted that other entrances needed to be guarded as well. Some rushed toward a nearby gate.

The 18 lawmakers, accompanied by about 50 aides and more than 30 parliamentary security officers, left the Songpa election office by bus around 11:45 a.m.

They arrived at the polling station shortly after noon. Authorities deployed roughly 1,500 personnel, including more than 20 riot police units, 100 demonstration police officers — whose duty is ensuring public voices are heard — and 200 detectives.

At around 12:20 p.m., a small group of protesters approached police officers as they began taking positions near an entrance opposite Gate 2-1.

"Even if you proceed, please make sure no one gets hurt," some demonstrators told law enforcement officers. Some others urged fellow protesters not to provoke the police.

While most demonstrators sought to avoid direct confrontation, a handful of protesters caused disturbances.

"Bring your guns and shoot everyone,” one participant shouted at officers.

At about 12:30 p.m., the head of security at Songpa Police Station announced over a loudspeaker that the parliamentary committee had requested police assistance to maintain order and ensure safety.

“Please move away from the gate,” the police officer said. “Police may take necessary measures to secure an access route. Anyone who assaults or threatens a police officer may face charges of obstructing official duties under Article 136 of the Criminal Act.”

Despite the warning, protesters continued chanting their slogan — "Rigged election, A-WEB."

Police then formed a human cordon around nearby Gate 2-2 and pushed protesters outside the perimeter to secure an entry route.

In response, demonstrators shouted and cursed at officers.

“I've never seen this many police officers deployed — not even during protests where people threw stones,” some protesters yelled.

At around 12:45 p.m., the parliamentary delegation entered the secured area under police protection. Officers removed protesters blocking Gate 2-2 one by one. During the operation, one woman broke down in tears and complained of pain.

Once the area in front of the gate was cleared around 1:10 p.m., the lawmakers raised the closed shutter and entered the handball gymnasium.

The committee completed its inspection around 1:45 p.m. and left the venue under police escort.

The protesters followed the delegation to the parking lot.

“Politicians from both ruling and opposition parties were trying to make the NEC a scapegoat,” the protesters said. “The National Assembly should be dissolved through A-WEB. We must re-elect lawmakers.”

The committee had originally planned to conduct a single on-site inspection next Wednesday, but voted to split the investigation into two visits during a plenary session held on Wednesday. The lawmakers are scheduled to inspect the NEC and the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission next Tuesday.

During Wednesday's committee meeting, lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties clashed over whether police should be deployed and, if so, to what extent during the inspections.

BY KIM YE-JUNG [[email protected]]