South Koreans protest over ballot shortages, demand election rerun

Thousands of protesters continued to stage a rally near a vote-counting facility in eastern Seoul for the third day Sunday, claiming last week's local elections were fraudulent and demanding a new election. According to estimates, approximately 3,000 people surrounded the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium as of noon. Police estimated a crowd of 30,000 had gathered the previous day. Protesters were gathered at each of the eight entrances, keeping eyes on ballot boxes that remain inside the facility while chanting slogans calling for a do-over of the elections. Protests have continued after ballot paper shortages were reported at more than a dozen polling stations across Seoul on Wednesday, including in Songpa and Gangnam, prompting temporary voting suspensions. Some voters were believed to have left without casting their ballots.

Protests have been reported in South Korea, with some demonstrators alleging election irregularities and criticizing the government of President Lee Jae-myung.

Supporters of the protests claim there were issues with the electoral process, while government officials and… pic.twitter.com/sEyG9BBFm0

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The main opposition People Power Party (PPP) also stepped up its call for a new election, proposing talks with President Lee Jae Myung to discuss the issue. Describing the protests as an "orderly civil resistance movement," Rep. Jang argued the situation has reached a point where it could no longer be ignored. The National Election Commission (NEC) Chairman Roh Tae-ak and NEC Secretary General Heo Cheol-hoon offered their resignations Friday.