38 calls logged in Seoul by noon
Police were called to polling stations across the country Wednesday as some voters caused disturbances on the day of the 9th nationwide simultaneous local elections. Incidents of voters shouting and creating scenes over complaints about voting procedures were reported repeatedly throughout the day.
According to the Korean National Police Agency, 213 emergency calls were received at 14,288 polling stations nationwide from 6 a.m., when voting began, through noon. The calls broke down as follows: 28 reports of voting obstruction or disorderly conduct, 2 assault reports, 10 traffic-related complaints, and 173 miscellaneous calls including mistaken reports.
In Seoul alone, 71 emergency calls had been logged by noon, with police dispatched to multiple scenes involving shouting and disruptive behavior. In Yeongdeungpo-gu, a woman in her 70s caused a scene around 9:06 a.m., shouting that her ballot had already been marked.
At 9:35 a.m., a man in his 40s in Gwanak-gu created a disturbance after poll workers stopped him from photographing his ballot inside the voting booth.
In Gangdong-gu, a voter called in at 10:37 a.m. to report that two ballots had been printed for them. Police confirmed the incident was the result of a simple clerical error by a polling official.
In Dongdaemun-gu, a man in his 60s arrived at a polling station around 6:28 a.m. — just after voting opened — and attempted to leave without depositing his ballot in the box. When election officials blocked his exit, he began shouting and causing a disturbance.
At 7:40 a.m., a man in his 60s who had gone to the wrong polling station in Guro-gu was directed to his correct location, whereupon he struck and grabbed the arm of an election official. Police said they plan to investigate whether those involved violated the law.
Meanwhile, the National Election Commission said nationwide voter turnout stood at 46.0 percent as of 1 p.m. Wednesday.
20ki@heraldcorp.com
