On the 3rd, when the June 3 local elections were held, a shortage of ballots in parts of Seoul's Songpa District kept voters from casting ballots. Songpa is an area where the People Power Party has defeated the Democratic Party of Korea by large margins in each election. The People Power Party said, "An absurd incident has occurred in an election in a liberal democracy," adding, "suffrage has been violated." The National Election Commission said belatedly that it was transporting ballots, but confusion continued on the ground.
The People Power Party said that on this day it identified ballot shortages at Munjeong 1-dong No. 4 polling station, Munjeong 2-dong No. 2 polling station, Jamsil 2-dong No. 6 polling station, Jamsil 7-dong No. 2 polling station, Jamsil 4-dong No. 5 polling station, Garak 2-dong Nos. 3 and 7 polling stations, Wirye-dong No. 5 polling station in Songpa District; Cheongdam-dong No. 4 polling station, Gaepo 2-dong No. 2 polling station in Gangnam District; Guui 3-dong No. 6 polling station in Gwangjin District; and Noryangjin 1-dong No. 7 polling station in Dongjak District.
Bae Hyun-jin, the People Power Party's Seoul chapter chair, said, "This situation of ballot shortages in an election is not a simple mistake but clear evidence that the basic system of election management has completely collapsed, shaking the very foundation of democracy." She added, "Throughout the election, President Lee Jae-myung meddled with blatant interference and coarse language that made the public and citizens frown, and yet he failed even to secure the basic ballots that all citizens can use to participate. As president, he must apologize to the people and strictly discipline those responsible at the National Election Commission and local election commissions."
Cho Eun-hee, chief general election director for Oh Se-hoon, the People Power Party's Seoul mayoral candidate, said, "We can never tolerate this kind of infringement on voters' suffrage," adding, "Not a single citizen should be unable to vote because there are no ballots."
Joo Jin-woo, a People Power Party lawmaker, said, "An absurd incident has occurred in an election in a liberal democracy," adding, "the suffrage of those who could not vote in time and left after waiting was completely violated." He continued, "The election commission muzzled the public and has now caused a major election disaster," adding, "Fight to the end to vote and pass judgment on the Lee Jae-myung administration and the election commission."
Park Sung-hoon, the People Power Party's central election committee public relations chief, said, "The election commission's complacency and incompetence have ultimately shattered the foundation of democracy in the Republic of Korea," adding, "the election commission must kneel before the people and make a full apology for today's unprecedentedly shoddy election."