SEOUL, June 14 (AJP) -Protests demanding a rerun of South Korea's June 3 local elections swelled back to hundreds over the weekend as investigators moved closer to questioning election officials over the ballot paper shortage scandal that has triggered the country's biggest election-related demonstrations in years.
The demonstrations around Seoul's Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Jamsil, which served as a vote-counting center, entered their 10th day Sunday, with police increasingly preparing for a prolonged standoff rather than a quick resolution.
According to unofficial police estimates, around 600 protesters remained at the site as of 10 a.m. Sunday. Attendance had peaked at roughly 19,000 people on Saturday evening, after thinning during weekday working hours.
The protests began after ballot paper shortages disrupted voting at 26 polling stations, primarily in Seoul, during the June 3 local elections.
National flags lined the protest area, while a growing number of demonstrators erected tents and makeshift shelters around entrances to the Olympic Park complex.
One notable feature of the latest weekend rallies has been the return of younger participants in their 20s and 30s, some of whom insist the issue transcends traditional ideological divisions.
"This is not a matter of left versus right," read signs carried by some protesters, reflecting an effort to broaden the movement beyond conventional conservative circles.
The absence of a formal organizer has complicated the authorities' response.
Unlike an earlier three-day blockade of a polling station in Jamsil, the current demonstration site is located away from residential neighborhoods, generating relatively few noise complaints. With vote counting already completed, police also have limited legal grounds to restrict the gatherings on election administration grounds.
Police said peaceful demonstrations would be allowed to continue while individual illegal acts would be handled separately as authorities predict the protests won't likely end quickly.
The next flashpoint could come Monday when sports organizations affected by the blockade of the handball arena plan to hold a press conference demanding access to the facility. Some groups are expected to attempt entry with police assistance.
Authorities are also investigating allegations that protesters searched the belongings of youth national handball players and assaulted a television journalist covering the demonstrations.
Meanwhile, a joint team of prosecutors and police is preparing to launch formal questioning of election officials after completing a search of National Election Commission (NEC) servers.
According to legal sources, investigators finished analyzing and securing data from NEC servers on Saturday, including internal messaging records and approval documents related to ballot production decisions.
The investigation centers on how the commission reduced ballot printing volumes to 50 percent of the expected voter base and whether warning signs were ignored before shortages emerged at polling stations.
Investigators are expected to first summon working-level officials from election offices in Songpa, Seocho, Gangnam, Gwangjin and Dongjak districts, where shortages were most severe, before moving up the chain of command.
Former NEC Chairman Roh Tae-ak, who resigned after publicly apologizing for the crisis, is expected to face questioning at a later stage.
The joint task force is examining whether election officials improperly exercised authority or failed to fulfill their duties during the planning and response process.
Search warrants executed earlier this week cited suspected violations of the Public Official Election Act, dereliction of duty and breach of trust.
Investigators are particularly focused on whether internal objections were raised during decision-making and whether senior officials influenced the reduction in ballot printing despite foreseeable risks.
The probe is expected to intensify next week as prosecutors and police complete the transfer and analysis of seized materials and begin witness interviews.
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