Key facts
- Thousands of protesters gathered in Seoul demanding a re-run of local elections.
- A ballot shortage affected 50 out of 14,300 polling stations.
- Voting was temporarily suspended at 22 polling stations due to supply delays.
- The head of the National Election Commission resigned.
- Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon called the shortage intolerable and demanded an investigation.
Protests erupted outside a ballot-counting site in South Korea, with approximately 10,000 citizens gathering to demand a re-run of local elections held earlier in the week. The demonstrations were sparked by a ballot shortage that affected 50 out of 14,300 polling stations nationwide, preventing some eligible voters from casting their ballots. Voting was also temporarily suspended at 22 polling stations due to delays in supply delivery. Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon described the situation as intolerable and a violation of voting rights, calling for the election commission to be disbanded and for a special prosecutor investigation. Protesters, including conservative YouTubers, chanted slogans for an election re-run and waved national flags. Some individuals sat in front of the stadium gates to prevent National Election Commission officials from leaving. The officials, who had been at the stadium since Friday morning, eventually departed on Saturday. Protesters rallied for a second day outside a ballot-counting site in South Korea, demanding a re-run of local elections due to a ballot shortage. The shortage prevented some eligible voters from casting ballots, prompting calls for the resignation of the head of the National Election Commission and an investigation.