Citizens demanding an investigation into fraudulent elections due to a shortage of ballots in Jamsil, Songpa-gu, Seoul. [Provided by reader] 

The local elections on June 3, 2026, left a severe stain due to an unprecedented shortage of ballots.

At polling stations in major areas of Seoul, including Songpa, Gangnam, and Seocho, voters experienced long waits or gave up their right to vote and returned home due to a shortage of ballots. The National Election Commission (NEC) officially acknowledged the ballot shortage by issuing an apology. This is a grave situation where citizens' constitutional right to vote has been infringed.

The leadership of the People Power Party, stating that the election was tainted, proposed the necessity of a by-election. Oh Se-hoon, a candidate, also publicly stated that vote counting should be suspended until measures are completed in the areas experiencing ballot shortages.

However, the NEC proceeded with the vote count without accepting these demands, and although the election results were ultimately finalized, the public's doubts regarding procedural legitimacy remain entirely unresolved.

In a democracy, public trust in the electoral process is more important than the election results. If even a single citizen is unable to exercise their right to vote due to the state's error, it is a serious problem in itself. Furthermore, this incident occurred simultaneously in areas where a specific political party is strong. This is not an issue that can be swept under the rug with a mere apology from the election commission.

A question for Mayor-elect Oh Se-hoon:

You criticized the infringement of the right to vote when you called for the suspension of vote counting; will you remain silent after your election? You raised the possibility of a by-election when pointing out problems in the electoral process; will you only speak of acceptance after the results are out?

If you genuinely respect democracy and the legitimacy of elections, and if you do not wish for your election to be based on public doubt, you must demand a by-election for Seoul immediately.

The legitimacy of an election is a value that must be upheld, regardless of victory or defeat.

Mayor-elect Oh Se-hoon, officially demand a thorough investigation into the truth, punishment of those responsible, and a by-election for Seoul from the election commission.

Nothing takes precedence over the people's right to vote. Democracy cannot be built upon a "haphazard election." Given the unprecedented situation of a ballot shortage, demanding a by-election is the path to protecting democracy and the minimum responsibility to respect citizens' right to vote.

June 4, 2026

Oh Sang-jong, Korean Sovereign Citizens' Association