The standoff in front of Jamsil 7-dong No. 2 polling station in Songpa District, Seoul, where a ballot paper shortage occurred in the 9th nationwide local elections held simultaneously (the June 3 local elections), has continued for a third day as of 7:30 a.m. on the 5th.
Protesters are guarding the main and back gates of the seniors' center at Wooseong Apartment in Songpa District, where the Jamsil 7-dong No. 2 polling station is installed. It has been about 34 hours since around 10 p.m. on the 3rd. Although there were showers the previous day, the protesters stayed in place wearing raincoats. During the overnight protest, some took catnaps in chairs.
Near the Jamsil 7-dong No. 2 polling station, bottled water, drinks, and snacks for the protesters were piled up. These supplies were steadily sent by people who agreed with the purpose of the rally starting the previous day. Some handed out portable batteries.
On the night before, the number of protesters swelled to about 1,400 by the police's unofficial estimate. To reduce inconvenience to residents, they continued a silent protest during the early morning hours, refraining from chanting slogans such as "rigged election" and "dissolve the election commission." Several hundred people remain on site this morning as well.
Jamsil 7-dong No. 2 polling station is one of 14 polling stations in Seoul that ran short of ballot papers and pushed back the closing time on the 3rd from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Two ballot boxes inside the polling station remain unopened. The Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission estimates there are about 2,000 votes in these boxes.