Seoul police deployed a mobile unit to retrieve two ballot boxes blocked by protesters at a Songpa-gu polling station on June 5, 2024 [1], [2].
The incident highlights growing tensions over electoral integrity and administrative errors, as a shortage of voting papers during local elections triggered a prolonged standoff between citizens and authorities.
The operation took place at the Jamshil-7-dong second polling station, located in front of a community center in the Wuseong Apartment complex [1]. The blockade began after a shortage of ballot papers occurred during the June 3 local elections, leading protesters to prevent the removal of the boxes [2].
Police began deploying mobile units at 07:30 KST [1]. While one report states about 10 mobile police units were deployed [1], another report indicates approximately 1,000 police personnel were mobilized for the operation [2]. The ballot boxes were eventually removed around 08:55 KST [2].
According to reports, the polling station had been under blockade for about 35 hours before the boxes were successfully taken out [2]. The intervention followed a specific request from the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission to maintain order, and ensure the transport of the ballot boxes was not obstructed [2].
A Seoul Songpa Police spokesperson said the department received an explicit request for cooperation from the Seoul Metropolitan Election Commission to maintain order during the escort of the ballot boxes.
The police warned that those who assault, threaten, or confine election officials, or damage election facilities and equipment such as ballot papers, may be punished under Article 224 of the Public Official Election Act, the spokesperson said.
Additionally, the spokesperson said that anyone who pushes or assaults a police officer may be punished under Article 126 of the Criminal Act.
“The polling station had been under blockade for about 35 hours before the boxes were taken out.”
The use of approximately 1,000 police personnel to secure two ballot boxes suggests a high level of state concern regarding the physical security of the vote. The fact that a ballot-paper shortage served as the catalyst for a 35-hour blockade indicates that administrative failures in the electoral process can rapidly escalate into civil unrest and challenges to the legitimacy of the results.
