Police begin dispersing protesters at Seoul polling station

SEOUL, June 5 (Yonhap) -- Police on Friday began dispersing protesters at a polling station in southern Seoul after hundreds gathered earlier this week to protest a shortage of ballots during the June 3 local elections, blocking election officials from removing ballot boxes.

More than 10 mobile police units were deployed around the No. 2 polling station in Jamsil, Songpa Ward, at around 7:30 a.m., with reports of physical clashes.

A police official notified the protesters they had been asked to cooperate in removing remaining ballot boxes at the polling station, adding those who hurt election officials or damaged election equipment or facilities could be punished under the election law.

The polling station was one of over a dozen locations in Seoul that experienced ballot shortages Wednesday, prompting the temporary suspension of voting. Angry protesters gathered at the polling station, accusing the election watchdog of having committed election fraud.

Two ballot boxes, containing around 2,000 ballots, are said to remain at the polling station, preventing the National Election Commission from completing vote counting and officially declaring election winners in affected areas.

Police gather around a polling station in southern Seoul on June 5, 2026, where protestors gathered over a shortage of ballots for the June 3 local elections. (Yonhap)