Protests Over Ballot Shortages Continue in Seoul, Numbers Decline

SEOUL, June 15 (Yonhap) -- Protests demanding a rerun of the June 3 local elections marred by ballot shortages continued for the eleventh day Monday, though the number of protesters sharply declined from the weekend.

About 200 protesters were rallying around SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul's southern ward of Songpa as of 10 a.m., according to an unofficial police estimate. As many as 20,000 people had gathered in the area over the weekend.

Protesters began gathering at the stadium, which served as a ballot counting site, on June 5, days after ballot shortages at some polling stations, mostly in Seoul, disrupted voting during the local elections.

According to the National Election Commission (NEC), voting was temporarily suspended at 26 polling stations across the nation, and some voters reportedly returned home without casting their votes due to the lack of ballot papers.

While the NEC apologized for the debacle, it said the ballot shortages do not warrant a rerun under the election law. A joint team of police investigators and prosecutors have been investigating the NEC over the shortages.

The protesters at the stadium have blocked its entrances in a bid to prevent election officials from removing ballot boxes. The blockade has prevented sports organizations based at the building from entering their offices.

Park Jeong-bo, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, warned protesters could face tough punishment, if they engage in illegal activities.

Park told reporters that protesters who searched through personal belongings of the national women's youth handball team at the stadium will face charges of aggravated coercion, which carries a punishment of up to 10 years in prison.

"In the event (you) become an accomplice by thoughtlessly going along with an illegal activity, it could completely ruin your life," he said.

The Seoul Songpa Police Station has determined three suspects who searched the belongings.

Park also warned that the protesters' blockade of the stadium is "a clear illegal act," warning that they could face investigation for obstruction of business.

The police are investigating a total of 15 cases related to illegal activities by the protesters, including assault of a journalist.

Some of the protesters plan to hold a separate rally near the presidential office in central Seoul later in the day.