Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission Secretary-General Kim Beom-jin is surrounded by protesters and reporters after visiting the Jamsil 7-dong No. 2 polling station in Songpa-gu, Seoul, where a shortage of ballot papers occurs during the 9th Nationwide Local Elections (June 3 local elections), on the morning of the 4th. /Courtesy of Kwon O-eun

Kim Beom-jin, Secretary-General of the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission, said, "We have not been able to open the ballot box from Polling Station No. 2 in Jamsil 7-dong, Songpa District, so we cannot yet confirm the election of People Power Party candidate Oh Se-hoon as Seoul mayor."

Secretary-General Kim stated accordingly as he left the senior citizens' center at Useong Apartment, where Polling Station No. 2 in Jamsil 7-dong, Songpa District, Seoul—site of the ballot paper shortage during the 9th nationwide local elections held simultaneously (the June 3 local elections)—was set up, after visiting around 11 a.m. on the 4th.

Secretary-General Kim explained that they had not yet decided when and how to remove the ballot boxes. Kim said, "We will try to move the ballot boxes with minimal confrontation."

At Polling Station No. 2 in Jamsil 7-dong, the closing time was extended from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. the previous day due to a shortage of ballot papers. In response, residents and YouTubers gathered, preventing two ballot boxes inside the polling station from being moved to the counting center. The ballot boxes are estimated to contain about 2,000 votes.

Nearly 12 hours after 11:50 p.m. the previous day, when voting officially ended, around 200 people were still guarding the front of Polling Station No. 2 in Jamsil 7-dong.

As Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission Secretary-General Kim Beom-jin exits the Jamsil 7-dong No. 2 polling station in Songpa-gu, Seoul, where a shortage of ballot papers occurs during the 9th Nationwide Local Elections (June 3 local elections), some protesters strongly protest on the morning of the 4th. /Courtesy of Kwon O-eun

There was strong resistance as Secretary-General Kim was leaving Polling Station No. 2 in Jamsil 7-dong. Some protesters shouting "rigged election" and "re-vote" blocked Secretary-General Kim and even shoved him. Protests continued on the grounds that he should take responsibility on the spot.

However, other protesters nearby stopped them, saying, "No violence," and Hwang Kyo-ahn, head of the Liberty and Innovation party, also calmed the crowd. Secretary-General Kim was able to leave about 40 minutes after exiting the polling station.

With Democratic Party of Korea Seoul mayoral candidate Chong Won-o conceding defeat that morning, Oh's victory was effectively confirmed. With 98.86% of the Seoul mayoral vote counted, Oh was leading Chong by about 45,000 votes.

※ This article has been translated by AI. Share your feedback here.