On the 3rd, Cho Seung-rae, chief of the general election task force for the Democratic Party of Korea, dismissed the People Power Party's call to delay the election, saying, "Claims to halt the count or hold a re-vote are not worth considering." While the Democratic Party acknowledged the National Election Commission's poor ballot management over the shortage of ballot papers in Seoul's Songpa, Gangnam, and Gwangjin districts, it maintains there are no problems with the vote count.
Meeting with reporters at the National Assembly at 10 p.m. that day, Cho expressed "strong regret" over the commission's poor ballot management and said, "This issue cannot be swept aside with a simple apology, and we will hold those responsible to account for lax election management."
However, Cho drew a line on the People Power Party's demands to halt the count and hold a re-vote, saying they are "not worth considering."
He added, "Regardless of the (paper shortage) issue, many Seoul citizens cast their ballots, and after polls closed, ballots went through the discussion procedures, were transported to counting centers, and the count is underway and continuing," noting, "Let me be clear that it cannot be stopped."
Cho also said, "I don't think the election commission can decide to stop the count," adding, "All other elections proceeded normally, so I believe it will proceed normally."
He went on to explain, "Under current rules, for voters who arrive at polling stations by 6 p.m., ballot papers are to be handed out and on-site voting is allowed even after 6 p.m.," adding, "Whether that number is large or small, this situation has occurred before." He further noted, "Back during COVID-19, there were also delays in voting time due to distancing and other measures."