Protesters clash as parliamentary committee inspects Seoul ballot-counting site over June shortages

Parliamentary committee enters blockaded ballot counting site for inspection

Members of a special parliamentary committee investigating ballot shortages that marred the June 3 local elections on Thursday entered a vote counting venue that has long been barricaded by angry protesters to prevent the removal of ballot boxes inside the venue. The on-site inspection came 27 days after protesters demanding a rerun of the elections began blockading the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southern Seoul on June 5, two days after ballot shortages temporarily suspended voting at polling stations across the nation. Police cleared protesters from the entrance to the stadium, which served as a ballot counting site on election day, to allow committee members access to the stadium. The inspection lasted around 40 minutes. Scuffles were witnessed outside the stadium early Thursday, with some protesters shoving one another and tearing American flags carried by other participants. Some protesters continued to blockade the stadium in opposition to the inspection, saying they would allow entry only to special counsel investigators or those with a warrant. Police separated the proteste

54 minutes ago

Scuffles break out among protesters ahead of parliamentary on-site probe into ballot shortages

Scuffles broke out among protesters outside the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southern Seoul on Thursday, hours before an on-site inspection by a parliamentary special committee investigating ballot shortages that marred the June 3 local elections. Some protesters have been blocking access to the stadium, which served as a ballot counting site on election day, in opposition to the inspection. They said they would allow entry only to special counsel investigators or those with a warrant. Scuffles were witnessed outside the stadium, with some protesters shoving one another and tearing American flags carried by other participants. Police separated the protesters to prevent further clashes and deployed some 2,000 personnel to the site. A team of emergency responders was dispatched to the scene after a protester reportedly collapsed. The cause of the collapse was not immediately known. Members of the parliamentary committee were expected to conduct an on-site inspection of the stadium in the afternoon, after visiting the Songpa District Election Commission, where they were briefed by elec

2 hours ago

Parliamentary committee to conduct 1st on-site probe into ballot shortages

A parliamentary special committee looking into ballot shortages during the June local elections will conduct its first on-site inspection this week, officials said Wednesday. During a plenary meeting earlier in the day, the committee approved a plan to inspect the Songpa District Election Commission and the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southern Seoul at 10 a.m. Thursday as part of its investigation into the voting and ballot-counting process. The committee plans to send an official letter requesting police cooperation ahead of the inspection, considering the ongoing protest at the Olympic Park area over the ballot shortages. The second on-site inspection, originally scheduled for next Wednesday, was moved up to next Tuesday, though its location has yet to be decided. The committee will hold its first hearing on July 14 and a second hearing on July 22 before adopting its final report on the investigation. It also plans to file complaints against witnesses who fail to appear at the hearings or are found to have given false testimony. Last month, the National Assembly launched the 18-m

1 day ago