Police forcibly disperse citizens blocking the transfer of ballot boxes in front of polling station No. 2 in Jamsil 7-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul. [Photo=Yonhap News]

A complaint has been filed demanding the punishment of responsible parties, including the Minister of the Interior and Safety and the police leadership, alleging that police used excessive force against citizens protecting ballot boxes in protest of the "ballot shortage incident" that occurred during the election.

The civil society group, the Committee for the Countermeasures of Common People's Livelihoods (Seomin-wi), explained the background of the incident, stating, "During the June 3 local elections, due to the Election Commission's indifference and mismanagement, the 'ballot shortage incident' occurred, which deprived voters of their right to vote. Angered by this, voters and citizens exercised their legitimate right to resist to protect the constitution."

On the morning of the 5th, at polling station No. 2 in Jamsil 7-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, police, at the request of the Election Management Committee, clashed violently with citizens during an attempt to remove ballot boxes. Approximately 1,000 police personnel from 18 riot police units were reportedly deployed to the scene.

A total of eight individuals are named as defendants in the complaint: six from the "command line," including Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-joong, Acting Commissioner of the National Police Agency Yoo Jae-seong, Director of the National Police Agency's Security Division Kim Byung-ki, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Park Jeong-bo, and Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Security Division Lee Kwan-young, and Seoul Songpa Police Station Chief Oh Sang-taek; and two "on-site operational managers," including the Head of the Security Division of the Songpa Police Station Oh Jeong-ha, and an unnamed field team leader of the Security Division of the Songpa Police Station.

The complainants allege that these individuals are guilty of abuse of power, dereliction of duty, unlawful arrest and detention, assault and battery, insult, and defamation.

In particular, the complaint includes allegations of "assault that reasonably gives grounds for suspicion of being Chinese public security" during the on-site suppression, stating that police roughly separated citizens who were linking arms and resisting, committing intentional assault and excessive forced suppression.

Furthermore, it was added that the voters, who were asserting their legitimate rights, were referred to as mere "protesters," thereby insulting the public and damaging their reputation.

Kim Soon-hwan, Secretary-General of Seomin-wi, stated, "Article 1 of the Police Human Rights Code of Conduct stipulates that 'citizens must remember that they are the masters of the nation and must respect the human rights of all people.' Despite this, the atrocity of trampling on citizens by abusing public authority is never forgivable. The leadership, which conspicuously neglected its duty of care, including lax supervision, is also gravely culpable."

He emphasized, "This incident is a grave matter that shakes the very foundations of the rule of law and liberal democracy, extending beyond a mere clash on the scene."

He strongly criticized the fact that public authority actively defended the Election Commission, which undermined the fairness of the election, calling it a "heaven-defying act of shamelessness."

Kim added, "If such irresponsible and thoughtless incidents are left unchecked, common sense, laws, and principles that sustain society will be uprooted, and expediency through power will run rampant." He urged the judiciary to respond strongly, stating, "Investigative agencies must conduct thorough and swift investigations based on a principle of zero tolerance, regardless of position or rank."

Meanwhile, according to Seoul Metropolitan Government's real-time city data, as of 5 PM on the 7th, the real-time population within the Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul, which was used as a vote counting location, was between 30,000 and 32,000 people, with those in their 20s (31.5%) and 30s (23.5%) accounting for more than half. Police have deployed 350 officers, including 6 riot police companies, to prepare for any contingencies.

Seomin-wi Donation Account: Post Office 010108-01-014472

Account Holder: Committee for the Countermeasures of Common People's Livelihoods

Reporter Lim Yo-hee