Ballot Shortage in South Korean Election Sparks Trust Crisis, Protesters Demand New Election for Days

(CNA, Seoul, 9th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Protests have erupted in South Korea after a shortage of ballots at some polling stations during last week's local elections. Demonstrators gathered outside a vote-counting facility in Seoul for the fifth consecutive day today, demanding a new election.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the National Election Commission (NEC) of South Korea stated that on the day of the local elections on the 3rd of this month, voting was temporarily suspended at 26 polling stations across the country due to a shortage of ballots.

According to unofficial police estimates, as of 10 a.m. today, about 200 protesters had gathered around the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Songpa District, Seoul.

The number of people at the scene this morning has significantly decreased compared to about 2,000 on Monday afternoon. Over the weekend, tens of thousands of protesters had gathered to protest the ballot shortage and prevent election officials from removing the ballot boxes.

The main demand of the weekend protests was a new election, but today, some protesters were seen claiming election fraud, with signs reading "Stop the Steal" appearing at the scene.

According to South Korean election laws, to overturn the results of a local election and hold a new one, a petition must first be filed with the NEC. If it is rejected, a lawsuit can be filed in court.

South Korea's minor New Reform Party intends to file a petition, arguing that some election results are invalid. (Translation: Chen Cheng-chien) 1150609