“Polling station official hospitalized after 22 hours of protesters’ blockade at Jamsil 7 dong voting site” | ‘시위대가 봉쇄’ 22시간 만에 잠실7동 투표소 관계자 병원 이송

A staff member at the Jamsil 7 dong polling station, where a ballot shortage occurred during the June 3 local elections, was taken to the hospital on June 4 after suffering health problems. This came about 22 hours after protesters alleging election fraud began blockading the polling station.

According to Yonhap News, at around 8:35 p.m., emergency responders entered the second polling station in Woosung Apartment Complex in Songpa District and transported an individual identified as “A” to a hospital. A is believed to be an election worker.

A fire department official said, “We responded after receiving a report that someone at the polling station was ill and showing signs of severe fatigue.”

When paramedics entered the polling station, some protesters argued that the person being transported could secretly take ballots out and demanded that their bags be searched.

The protesters have been surrounding and blocking the polling station since around 10 p.m. the previous day, claiming they wanted to prevent two ballot boxes from being removed. As a result, election commission officials and others inside were effectively trapped in the building and forced to remain there for an extended period. Some election observers and others managed to leave despite opposition from the protesters.

In the morning, Kim Soon ae visited the site and stated that 13 people, including election staff and observers who had remained there since the previous day, had been unable to eat properly. She asked the protesters to allow food deliveries and staff rotations.

As a result, delivered meals and other food were allowed into the polling station later that day.