Seoul: The government and the ruling Democratic Party (DP) have reiterated their commitment to taking firm action against illegal activities arising from protests over ballot shortages during the local elections held earlier this month. This announcement follows ongoing protests in the Jamsil district of Seoul, where demonstrators are demanding a rerun of the June 3 mayoral and gubernatorial elections due to unprecedented ballot shortages that resulted in voting suspension at 26 polling stations.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the government and the DP are pursuing a dual approach. While they maintain a strict stance against illegal acts by the protesters, they are also addressing the concerns of young voters who seek a peaceful resolution to the election issues. President Lee Jae Myung emphasized on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he has directed the police to investigate protesters obstructing civilians and urged protesters to respect others' rights while expressing their views.

DP spokesperson Park Hae-cheol supported this stance on Wednesday, stating that violent actions at protest sites will not be tolerated. Park highlighted the need to distinguish between legitimate issue-raising and actions that infringe on others' freedoms, labeling the latter as illegal.

In an effort to address concerns and explore reforms, the Office for Government Policy Coordination convened a public debate earlier in the day. This event aimed to gather input from young people and experts on how to reform the national election watchdog.

A recent survey conducted by Realmeter for EKN from Monday to Tuesday revealed public opinion on the possibility of a rerun. The survey, which included 1,011 participants aged 18 and older, showed that 51 percent of respondents believe a rerun is excessive due to potential costs and social disruption, while 45.6 percent support the idea of a rerun. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.