Protests demanding a rerun election, sparked by a ballot paper shortage during in-person voting in the 9th nationwide local elections (June 3 local elections), continued for a second day around the ballot-counting site at Olympic Park in Songpa District, Seoul.

As of 10 p.m. on the 6th, about 30,000 demonstrators had gathered around the Olympic Park Handball Arena, where the counting site was set up, according to unofficial police estimates and other sources. The crowd, which was around 1,000 at 6 a.m., grew significantly in the afternoon.

Citizens protesting the shortage of ballots in the June 3 local elections gather in front of the vote-counting center at the Olympic Park Handball Arena in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the 6th, chanting for a rerun election. /Courtesy of News1

Mos Tan (Korean name Dan Hyun-myung), a professor at Liberty University in the United States who has raised allegations of election fraud, visited the site and said, "Why did you deprive people across the country of the right to vote? Why were there not enough ballot papers?" Tan is currently under investigation on suspicion of defaming President Lee Jae-myung and is subject to an overseas travel ban.

Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of Liberty and Innovation, also attended the rally. Around 8 p.m., Hwang posted on his social media (SNS), saying, "Police have not yet entered the Jamsil Handball Arena, but early morning is vulnerable," and added, "Let's hold on a little longer."

Protesters sang the national anthem and chanted slogans such as "rerun election" and "invalidate the fraudulent election at the source," while monitoring to ensure ballot boxes were not taken out of the counting site. Food and drinks prepared by protesters and supporters were distributed at the scene.

As HYBE's "2026 Weverse Con Festival" was held simultaneously at the nearby Olympic Gymnastics Arena (KSPO Dome) and the 88 Lawn Field, scenes emerged of event attendees and protesters mingling.

Citizens protesting the shortage of ballots in the June 3 local elections march around the Jamsil vote-counting center at the Olympic Park Handball Arena in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the 6th. On the same day, a K-pop concert is held at the adjacent KSPO Dome and 88 Lawn Yard. /Courtesy of News1

According to the Seoul city real-time urban data, as of 9 p.m. on the 6th, the real-time population inside Olympic Park was estimated at 40,000 to 42,000. Among them, people in their 20s made up the largest share at 35.0%, followed by those in their 30s (23.6%), 40s (12.7%), teens and younger (12.6%), 50s (9.2%), and 60s and older (7.1%).

After the vote count ended the previous day, officials from the National Election Commission and reporters were unable to leave the counting site for some time as protesters occupied the entrances. It has been reported that commission staff have since exited the site. The commission said it is difficult to verify the facts.

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