Protests over ballot shortages during local elections entered their second day in Seoul on Saturday, with thousands surrounding a vote-counting facility and demanding a new election.
By 12:35 p.m., around 2,000 people had gathered at the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Songpa Ward. Protesters claimed Wednesday's elections were fraudulent and blocked entrances, trapping an estimated 20-30 officials inside. Police deployed 400 officers to the scene. No clashes were reported. Ballot paper shortages affected more than a dozen polling stations in Seoul, including Songpa and Gangnam, forcing temporary suspensions and leaving some voters unable to cast ballots. Ballot boxes were moved to the gymnasium on Friday morning. Since then, protesters have prevented officials from removing them or leaving. National Election Commission Chairman Roh Tae-ak and Secretary General Heo Cheol-hoon offered their resignations the same day.
