Police forced their way in on the morning of the 5th to remove two ballot boxes left at Jamsil 7-dong No. 2 polling station in Songpa District, Seoul, where a "ballot paper shortage" occurred during the June 3 local elections.
At about 8:30 a.m. that day, police began an operation to disperse the protesters occupying the area in front of the polling station. The protesters in front of the polling station had tied themselves together to block the removal of the ballot boxes. They shouted "warrant, warrant" at the police, demanding to see a warrant.
Earlier, at about 7:50 a.m., police asked the protesters to disperse voluntarily. Police warned, "In response to a request from the National Election Commission to help maintain order on site, we are trying to secure a route for the vehicle transporting the ballot boxes," adding, "If you push or assault officers taking necessary measures, you may be punished."
They added, "You may also be punished if you assault, threaten, or confine people engaged in election duties, or damage election-related facilities and equipment such as ballot papers and auxiliary voting tools."
However, the protesters did not comply with the police request to disperse, shouting, "Investigate the election commission."
Jamsil 7-dong No. 2 polling station is one of 14 polling stations in Seoul where a ballot paper shortage occurred on the 3rd. The station extended voting hours for voters who received the voter roll cross-check slip from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. After that, some residents and protesters blocked the transfer of the ballot boxes, preventing them from being moved to the counting center.