Ruling Democrats Keep Majority but Lose Seoul as Lee Accepts Results and Vows Probe into Ballot Shortage

President Lee Jae-myung said Thursday he would "humbly" accept the public sentiment reflected in the results of the June 3 local elections and parliamentary by-elections. He pledged to cooperate actively with newly elected local governments regardless of political affiliation. Lee spoke during a meeting with senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae.

His ruling Democratic Party won the majority of the seats up for grabs but failed to secure the Seoul mayoralty while capturing the mayoralty of Busan. "No matter how fiercely rival parties competed in the elections, both the ruling and opposition parties are partners who should safeguard the people's lives and secure a better future for the country on behalf of voters," Lee said.

Lee also called on political circles to join hands to improve people's livelihoods and pursue balanced regional development and national unity now that the elections have concluded. The president expressed "immense regret" over a shortage of ballot papers at more than a dozen polling stations in Seoul.

Voting was temporarily suspended at a polling station in Seoul's Jamsil district due to the shortage.

Angry protesters gathered at the Jamsil polling station and blocked the entrance at least until noon Thursday to prevent election officials from taking the ballot boxes for vote counting. The main opposition People Power Party called for an immediate suspension of voting and a revote.

The election watchdog dismissed the call, saying the incident did not constitute grounds for a reelection or postponement under the relevant law.

Lee called on relevant authorities to use all available means to determine the exact cause of the ballot paper shortage and seek accountability if necessary. "Election management should be more thorough than anything in a democratic republic," he said.