South Korea Election Controversy: Protesters Surround Polling Stations, Hope to Adopt Taiwan's Voting Method

(CNA correspondent Yang Qifang, Seoul, 4th) A controversy erupted during South Korea's local elections on the 3rd when 14 polling stations in Seoul ran out of ballot papers. Protesters gathered overnight at the Jamsil 7-dong 2nd polling station, preventing ballot boxes from being transported, so vote counting has yet to be completed there. Some citizens expressed a long-standing hope that South Korea could adopt Taiwan's voting method, which does not have early voting.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the National Election Commission stated today regarding the "ballot paper shortage" incident during the local elections that it does not meet the criteria for a postponed or re-run election as stipulated by the "Public Official Election Act."

The commission pointed out that the ongoing vote counting process cannot be interrupted, "and to confirm the will of voters who completed voting at the relevant polling stations, the ballot boxes should be transferred to the counting center."

The original voting hours for the local elections were from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the 3rd, followed by vote counting and the release of exit poll results as usual. However, a shortage of ballot papers occurred at 14 polling stations in Seoul, including 12 in Songpa District, and one each in Gangnam District and Gwangjin District. Voting at the Jamsil 7-dong 2nd polling station was not completed until 10 p.m.

As of 8 a.m. Korean time today, a large crowd of protesters remained gathered outside the Jamsil 7-dong 2nd polling station, chanting slogans such as "re-election," "invalid election," and "unfair election." Consequently, the ballot boxes inside the polling station have yet to be transported to the counting center.

As many conservative supporters were present at the protest site, a CNA reporter was initially mistaken for a Chinese reporter and was yelled at to "go away, Chinese." After identifying themselves, the protesters apologized. A woman in her 50s, identified as Ms. Kim, told the CNA reporter, "We must implement a full re-vote. Taiwan doesn't have early voting now, so we hope to adopt Taiwan's method."

Although most young women in South Korea support the ruling Democratic Party, a 20-year-old female university student participating in the protest told the CNA reporter, "It's unacceptable that 14 polling stations ran out of ballot papers. Regardless of who wins, there should be a re-election." Candidate Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party had already turned the tide, but vote counting in the Seoul district has not yet been completed.

Meanwhile, some nearby residents came to the scene and clashed with the protesters. "The election is over!" they shouted, while the protesters retorted, "It's not over yet!" (Editor: Wei Shu) 1150604