South Korean Police Break Through Protester Blockade, Retrieve Ballot Boxes After 35 Hours
In Seoul, South Korea, police broke through a blockade by conservative protesters at the Jamshil 7-dong 2nd polling station on the morning of June 5, successfully retrieving two ballot boxes after a 35-hour standoff. Approximately 1,000 police officers were deployed to remove resisting protesters. The ballot boxes contain about 2,000 votes, which are required to officially confirm the election results for the Seoul mayor and other positions.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: June 5, 2026 at 10:33
- 🔍 Collected: June 5, 2026 at 10:46 (13 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 6, 2026 at 15:20 (28h 34m after Collected)
(CNA Special Correspondent Yang Qifang, Seoul, 5th) Although the results of South Korea's June 3 local elections have been determined, two ballot boxes at the Jamshil 7-dong 2nd polling station in Seoul could not be transported out due to protesting citizens. This morning, police broke through the protesters' blockade and successfully retrieved the two ballot boxes 35 hours after the blockade began.
According to Yonhap News Agency, police broke through the blockade at approximately 8:54 AM on June 5, retrieved the two ballot boxes, and immediately loaded them onto a vehicle for transport to the counting location. This occurred about 35 hours after conservative YouTubers and citizens began gathering around 10 PM on June 3, claiming to prevent the ballot boxes from being moved.
Starting around 7:30 AM on June 5, police deployed 18 mobile units, approximately 1,000 officers, to formally attempt entry into the polling station. The Seoul Songpa Police Station stated that it had received a request for assistance from the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission and warned protesters that illegal detention of election officials or damage to election management equipment would be punishable under Article 224 of the Public Official Election Act, demanding they disperse.
However, protesters formed a human chain at the back door of the building, refusing to yield. Police began grabbing protesters' hands and feet to drag them away around 8:11 AM, successfully entering the building about 40 minutes later.
Protesters resisted while singing the national anthem, but because the road to the back door was blocked by police, other protesters could not join them, ultimately failing to prevent the ballot boxes from being removed. Some protesters who witnessed the ballot boxes being taken away wept loudly, expressing regret and dissatisfaction.
This local election saw disputes over insufficient ballots at 14 polling stations in Seoul, leading to a situation where some voters had not yet finished voting even as counting was underway. Reports indicate that the two ballot boxes from the Jamshil 7-dong 2nd polling station contain ballots from approximately 2,000 voters. By law, these ballot boxes must be opened before the election results for Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and others can be officially confirmed.
According to Yonhap News Agency, police broke through the blockade at approximately 8:54 AM on June 5, retrieved the two ballot boxes, and immediately loaded them onto a vehicle for transport to the counting location. This occurred about 35 hours after conservative YouTubers and citizens began gathering around 10 PM on June 3, claiming to prevent the ballot boxes from being moved.
Starting around 7:30 AM on June 5, police deployed 18 mobile units, approximately 1,000 officers, to formally attempt entry into the polling station. The Seoul Songpa Police Station stated that it had received a request for assistance from the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission and warned protesters that illegal detention of election officials or damage to election management equipment would be punishable under Article 224 of the Public Official Election Act, demanding they disperse.
However, protesters formed a human chain at the back door of the building, refusing to yield. Police began grabbing protesters' hands and feet to drag them away around 8:11 AM, successfully entering the building about 40 minutes later.
Protesters resisted while singing the national anthem, but because the road to the back door was blocked by police, other protesters could not join them, ultimately failing to prevent the ballot boxes from being removed. Some protesters who witnessed the ballot boxes being taken away wept loudly, expressing regret and dissatisfaction.
This local election saw disputes over insufficient ballots at 14 polling stations in Seoul, leading to a situation where some voters had not yet finished voting even as counting was underway. Reports indicate that the two ballot boxes from the Jamshil 7-dong 2nd polling station contain ballots from approximately 2,000 voters. By law, these ballot boxes must be opened before the election results for Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and others can be officially confirmed.