Photo : YONHAP News
The blockade of a ballot-counting center in Seoul’s Songpa district related to ballot shortages during the June 3 local elections has entered its fifth day.
Police estimated that the crowd gathered at the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium, which was the designated counting center in the district, had fallen from more than ten-thousand as of 10:30 p.m. Monday to around 380 as of 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The size of the crowd has fluctuated with most of the protesters in their 20s and 30s returning to the rally past 7 p.m. after studying or working during the day.
The protesters claim ballot shortages violated their constitutional rights and are demanding a revote, with chanting about alleged election-rigging heard among some in the crowd.
The participants have called to conduct a peaceful rally, but there were reports of clashes on site, such as when some protesters blocked female youth handball players from entering the gymnasium and demanded proof of identity.
The police have dispatched riot squads in case the situation escalates.