Seoul: Protests demanding a re-run of last week's local elections marred by ballot shortages continued for the ninth day Saturday morning, though participants decreased sharply compared with the previous night. About 700 protesters chanted slogans and waved national flags around SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul's southern district of Jamsil as of 9 a.m., down from some 8,000 people gathered Friday night.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the protests were sparked by the unprecedented ballot shortages in the June 3 mayoral and gubernatorial elections. The National Election Commission (NEC) reported that voting was suspended at 26 polling stations nationwide, with some voters leaving without casting their votes due to the lack of ballot papers. The protests had initially swelled to about 30,000 people, many of whom were in their 20s and 30s, last weekend. However, the numbers have gradually decreased, with older individuals replacing younger voters at weekday rallies.

The NEC has apologized, citing an incorrect prediction of voter turnout as the reason for insufficient ballot papers. Nonetheless, it has maintained that the shortages neither warrant a re-run nor altered the election results. In addition to the ballot shortages, NEC officials reportedly made other errors, such as mistakes when entering candidates' vote counts into the computer network in certain districts. These issues have further tarnished the NEC's reputation, already marred by ethical lapses like nepotistic hiring, leading to calls for its dismantlement.

The NEC is an independent constitutional organization not subject to any outside audit, a measure initially intended to protect the agency from political influence. However, critics argue that such privileges have exacerbated the problems within the agency. In response, President Lee Jae Myung has promised a thorough investigation and measures to reform the election watchdog.

A joint investigation team of the prosecution and police has banned former NEC Chairperson Roh Tae-ak from leaving the country. Additionally, Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the main opposition People Power Party, has proposed a meeting with Prime Minister Kim Min-seok and ruling Democratic Party leader Jung Chung-rae to discuss an election re-run and a special counsel investigation. "Let's meet even today," Jang stated in a social media post, suggesting flexibility in the meeting format.