July 3, 2026
SEOUL – A parliamentary committee inspecting a sealed ballot counting site in southern Seoul on Thursday raised concerns over how the National Election Commission has been managing ballot boxes from the June 3 local elections, citing possible blind spots in the site’s surveillance system.
Lawmakers said they found potential surveillance blind spots in areas where ballot boxes are being stored at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in Songpa-gu, southern Seoul.
“It is absurd for the NEC to store the ballots in such a place,” said Rep. Kim Yong-man of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. “The boxes are not being stored securely, and the NEC must consider moving them to a safer location.”
Rep. Joo Jin-woo of the main opposition People Power Party opposed moving the ballots, saying the committee should first verify whether surveillance blind spots actually exist at the site.
The committee has requested surveillance footage from the ballot-counting site, where ballots, documents and other election-related items have remained since the disputed vote-counting process.
The inspection lasted about 40 minutes from 1:10 p.m., after police cleared protesters. It marked the first time lawmakers entered the site in 27 days.
The gymnasium has been inaccessible since June 5, when two ballot boxes from the second polling station in Jamsil 7-dong were belatedly moved there for counting after ballot shortages were reported on election day. Protesters have since blocked the venue, demanding a special counsel investigation into what they claim was an infringement of voting rights.
About 380 ballot boxes and 2.47 million ballots from across Songpa-gu remain inside the arena, along with voting records, early voting records, ballot storage boxes, counting records, vote-counting equipment and rented computers and printers, according to officials.
Committee members entered the building at around 1:10 p.m. and moved to the basement, where election-related materials are being stored. They inspected how the ballot boxes were secured, reviewed storage procedures and checked the locations of cameras and other security arrangements.
The committee did not open any ballot boxes or verify the number of ballots. No election materials were removed from the site.
Police officers moved protesters away from the entrance one by one before the lawmakers entered. Police had warned that refusing safety instructions or assaulting or threatening officers could lead to charges of obstruction of official duty.
One participant was taken away by emergency responders after complaining of a foot injury during the police operation. Police said no protesters were detained.
Tensions rose near the entrance as some participants shouted at police and argued with others at the scene. The atmosphere eased after lawmakers and police secured access to the building.
Police deployed about 2,000 personnel to the site.
The prolonged blockade has disrupted the use of one of the country’s main sports and concert arenas. The Korean Sport and Olympic Committee and other organizations had called for government intervention after being unable to use the venue.
The main opposition People Power Party has criticized President Lee Jae Myung’s administration over the ballot shortage incident and called for a special counsel investigation and reform of the National Election Commission. Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok visited the Songpa-gu site last week and encouraged those gathered there.
Hard-right figures who have promoted election fraud claims, including Hwang Kyo-ahn, head of the Freedom & Innovation Party, also appeared at the scene Thursday.
Police are investigating 139 people in connection with 58 alleged illegal acts at the site, including assault, threats, insults and obstruction of official duty.