The Korea Times

Thousands rally for 3rd day demanding new election over ballot shortages

Thousands of protesters continued to stage a rally near a vote-counting facility in eastern Seoul for the third day Sunday, claiming last week's local elections were fraudulent and demanding a new election. According to an unofficial police estimate, approximately 3,000 people surrounded SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Songpa Ward as of noon. Police estimated a crowd of 30,000 had gathered the previous day. Protesters are currently gathered at each of the eight entrances, keeping eyes on ballot boxes that remain inside the facility while chanting slogans calling for a do-over of the elections. An estimated 20 to 30 officials who were said to have been trapped inside reportedly managed to leave early Saturday, though the National Election Commission (NEC) has refused to officially confirm the reports. Protests have continued after ballot paper shortages were reported at more than a dozen polling stations across Seoul on Wednesday, including in Songpa and Gangnam, prompting temporary voting suspensions. Some voters were believed to have left without casting their ballots. NEC Chairman Roh