Protest demanding election do-over continues for third day

Protests calling for a rerun of the June 3 local election after a ballot shortage entered their third consecutive day on Sunday. Demonstrators have surrounded a vote-counting location while blocking the removal of ballot boxes whose counting has already been completed.

Protesters gathered around the vote-counting center at the Handball Gymnasium in Olympic Park in Songpa District, southern Seoul, waving hand-drawn Korean flags and repeatedly chanting “Rerun the election" on Sunday morning around 10:45 a.m.

Between 20 and 30 people were stationed overnight at each entrance to the venue, sitting on mats to hold their positions. More than half of the participants appeared to be in their 30s or younger, and many families attended together. Several people attached handwritten signs to the building's exterior carrying messages along the lines of “Guarantee the people’s right to vote.” Even an elementary school student nearby was writing slogans.

“In a democracy, there should not be even one person who is unable to vote,” said a protester from Seocho District, southern Seoul, who attended with an infant. “I was watching on TV and felt something burning up inside me, so I came out.”

“We are not supporters of any political party," said another protester. "We are citizens who came out because we are angry that our voting rights were taken away.”

A Mercedes-Benz sedan also became part of the protest on Sunday. Its owner placed a box containing pens on top of the vehicle with a sign reading, “Markers and tissues are ready. Please leave a message.” Participants wrote messages such as “Hold a new election” and “We must protect freedom” across the black exterior.

“I came out at 8:30 this morning because I feel sorry for the children who will grow up in a country where people were deprived of their voting rights,” said the owner of the car. “I think of my car as a canvas symbolizing a dark society. If citizens’ voices cover it in different colors, social evils will be eradicated.”

Snacks and drinks donated by supporters were stacked near the venue entrances.

"The items are being delivered by people wishing to support the protest," said a participant, who was organizing the delivered goods. When asked the quantity of the donated items, they "couldn't keep track because everything gets used up as soon as it arrives."

Some protesters were also seen opening boxes on delivery carts headed to a convenience store inside Olympic Park. They examined the contents themselves to check if they contained anything related to the election.

Participants attempted to maintain order by creating their own designated areas using blue tape and traffic cones. Some volunteers directed people by saying things such as “Take photos over there” and “People are walking through, so stay inside the line.” Other older participants thanked the younger protesters for their efforts.

The protesters also cleared pathways and applauded when police personnel arrived for shift changes. When certain individuals appeared to take leadership roles, others objected, shouting, “Will you take responsibility if something happens?”

According to Seoul’s real-time city data, between 10,000 and 12,000 people were present at Olympic Park as of noon. The protest is taking place at Olympic Park, where HYBE's 2026 Weverse Con Festival also took place on Saturday and Sunday, meaning that larger crowds were expected later in the afternoon.

On Saturday, concertgoers leaving the festival overlapped with protesters, creating crowded conditions, though no major disruptions occurred.

The number of protesters reached 36,000 at 9 p.m. Saturday before declining overnight and increasing again after daybreak. Police have deployed 350 officers, including mobile units, to the area.

On Friday, National Election Commission (NEC) Chairman Roh Tae-ak offered to resign, two days after ballot shortages disrupted voting at some southern Seoul polling stations during the June 3 local elections. Roh also noted that Secretary-General Heo Cheol-hoon had expressed his intention to resign to take responsibility as head of the agency’s secretariat.

BY LEE GYU-RIM [[email protected]]