Quitting jobs, living in tents: The protest that won't end at Olympic Park

"Whether it's one year or two, I plan to stay here the whole time — so a month doesn't even feel long."

A protest that erupted after a ballot shortage left some voters unable to cast their ballots during the June 3 local elections shows no sign of ending. The handball arena at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul — where ballot boxes from the district most affected by the shortage are stored — has become the focal point of the demonstrations. Protesters have gathered there for nearly a month, demanding accountability from the National Election Commission over what they call a failure in election management, and vowing to prevent any ballot boxes from being removed.

Among those encountered at Olympic Park from Tuesday through Thursday were people who had given up their livelihoods to join the protest. A month of outdoor living has left its mark: tan lines from arm sleeves cut sharply across their wrists and hands, and their faces are deeply sunburned. They sleep and eat in tents and shower at a nearby public bathhouse.

Choi, 35, is a married father who recently quit his job to stand guard in front of the handball arena. He has pitched a tent near gates 1 and 2 of the venue and has been living there for nearly a month. Inside the tent were a thin blanket, half-eaten kimbap and a cup of coffee.

"I'm someone who has been here a long time," he said, introducing himself. "The only time I stepped away yesterday was for my child's sports day at school. Other than a trip home a few days ago to grab some underwear, I haven't left my post."

He said he washes up at a nearby sauna or gym, and that meals are handled through donations and food brought by other participants. "People who have been here a long time all know each other's faces now — we've grown close and lean on each other," he said.

Choi said he sees the ballot shortage as the last chance to make his voice heard against the election commission. "The National Election Commission needs to be completely overhauled or dissolved. I want them to be transparent about their position first," he said. He then added with a laugh: "They say the monsoon season is coming — but I'm sure we'll adapt somehow."

Lee Seung-cheol, 62, a face painter by trade, has been away from work for nearly 10 days. "A single day's work normally brings in 200,000 to 300,000 won ($145 to $193), but I've been putting that aside and coming out to the protest," he said. He had initially hesitated to join, but made up his mind after hearing that a middle school student had spent their own money on paint to draw the national flag. "That's when I knew I had to come," he said.

"Last weekend, children and adults alike lined up and I spent five straight hours painting nothing but Taegukgi on arms and faces," Lee said. "Young people aren't asking for anything grand — they just want the process to be transparent and thorough. I'm glad I can help in this way."

Some participants in their 20s have put studies or job searches on hold to be there. Kim, 25, who came from Seongnam, has been volunteering for nearly a month. Resting inside a mesh-sided tent, he had visible mosquito bites across his body. Dressed in a sleeveless shirt and shorts to beat the heat, he scratched his arms and legs throughout the conversation. The space he occupies is part of a shared tent village rotated among volunteers, with a sign reading "1-1 Volunteer Rest Area."

"I've been living in the tent for three days straight now. Every so often I go home for a day to do laundry, shower and grab clothes," Kim said. "Just before this stretch, I stayed here for six days before going home."

Kim said meals are mostly handled through food sent to the protest — kimbap, dosirak and hamburgers. "We need to hold our position, so we don't go far. We eat right here on site," he said. "Other participants who run nearby stores have also let us use their facilities to shower."

"After graduating from university, I was preparing for aptitude tests to get into a large company — right up until just before the local elections," Kim said. "Since the ballot shortage happened, I've only been coming to the protest."

"What I want most is a by-election," he said. "That's the biggest goal. At the very least, I want it proven that there was election fraud."

Another protester is staying at the site until just before leaving to study abroad. Another Kim, 22, had just washed his hair and was settling into a mosquito-net shelter with his hair still wet. "I wash my hair with soap in the bathroom and wipe my body down with water," he said. "I just cleaned up, so I feel pretty refreshed."

"I'm going abroad to study in mid-July. I feel like I can only leave without regrets if I hold my post until the very end — so I've been coming out since June 8," he said. "Those responsible for the ballot shortage need to step down. The election commission in particular seems to have serious problems."