A conflict over a ballot shortage in the June 3 local elections is spilling into the streets. With a blockade protest surrounding the ballot-counting center at Olympic Park in Seoul's Songpa District entering its second day, the crowd swelled to about 10,000 people by the afternoon of the 6th.
Citizens demanding a re-election blocked the removal of ballot boxes, and Moss Tan (Korean name Dan Hyun-myung), a professor at Liberty University in the U.S. who has alleged election fraud, joined the scene.
According to News1, as of 6 p.m. that day, an estimated 10,000 people had gathered around the handball stadium at Olympic Park, by police unofficial count. The crowd fluctuated greatly throughout the day. From around 6,000 at 1 a.m., it shrank to about 1,000 at 6 a.m., then grew to 3,000 at 1:20 p.m. and surpassed 10,000 by 3:30 p.m. as the day brightened.
Citizens occupied the entrances on the first and second floors of the stadium, holding Korean flags along with signs reading "Re-election" and "We are fighting for rights to vote." Stationed at each entrance to prevent ballot boxes from being taken out, they chanted "Re-election" and sang the national anthem.
Due to the blockade, around 100 election commission officials and reporters who had finished counting at about 3 p.m. the previous day were temporarily unable to leave the counting center. Citizens at each entrance demanded identity verification and restricted passage.
Election Commission, Police Exit as Entrances Blocked
However, it was confirmed that all police inside the counting center had withdrawn, and election commission staff were reported to have left to avoid the protesters. The election commission said it was "difficult to confirm the facts" regarding the staff's withdrawal.
The protesters reacted sensitively to police movements. Around 9:30 a.m., when police moved near the counting center, demonstrators blocked the entrance, shouting "Come over here quickly," but once it was confirmed to be a simple shift change rather than a crackdown, they cleared the way and applauded, saying "Thank you for your hard work." Police deployed riot units near the stadium but showed no signs of any crackdown.
At the scene, the protest had effectively shifted into a prolonged standoff. Hamburgers, gimbap, coffee, and bottled water were distributed voluntarily, and a coffee truck sent by a citizen was also in operation. Online, posts piled up from those who could not come to the scene saying they had food delivered, and indeed food and drinks arrived continuously.
'Travel-Banned' Moss Tan Visits Protest Site
Moss Tan (Korean name Dan Hyun-myung), a professor at Liberty University in the U.S. who has alleged election fraud, and Dr. Douglas G. Frank appeared in front of the counting center around 6:25 p.m. As Professor Tan took the podium and continued speaking, protesters repeatedly chanted "Stop the steal," "Re-election," and "USA."
Taking the microphone, Professor Tan claimed, "Because they cannot win with bullets, North Korea and China are trying to win with votes," and "This election is clearly fraudulent." Citing the ballot shortage, he raised his voice, asking, "Why was the people's voting right taken away?" and "Why are there so many fake ballots?"
He also claimed that "Chinese-made components like Huawei are used in the electronic vote counters, leaving them completely exposed to the Chinese Communist Party." However, no objective evidence was presented to support these claims.
Dr. Frank added, "Unless you count the votes yourself, the votes will be stolen."
Notable is Professor Tan's legal status. He is under investigation on defamation charges and is barred from leaving the country. He is accused of publicly making false statements at a press conference at the National Press Building in Washington, D.C., in June last year, claiming that President Lee Jae-myung "was involved in the murder of a girl during his youth and was incarcerated in a juvenile detention center."
K-pop Fans and Protesters Mingle in One Space
Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of Freedom and Innovation, posted on Facebook, "We are not holding a separate rally today. Let all party members join the citizens in front of the Jamsil handball stadium," before joining the protest.
On the other hand, cracks were detected among citizens over the gathering location. Kim Min-su, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, and others attended the protest the previous day and called on people to "come to the Blue House," saying they had reported a rally near the Blue House for 4 p.m. on the 6th, but the protesters did not move.
Near the counting center, signs reading "The Blue House protest is incitement" were posted in various places.
At the Olympic Gymnastics Arena (KSPO Dome) and the 88 Lawn Plaza, about 100 meters from the counting center, HYBE's 2026 Weverse Con Festival was held. An unusual scene unfolded as protesters chanting "Re-election" and audiences who came to see the performance mingled in one space.
