Voting disturbances emerge at Gwangju polling stations

Voters cast their vote for the April 10 general election at a voting site in Gwangju on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

Numerous disturbances and issues were reported at Gwangju voting sites on Wednesday morning, the day of the general election.

At 6:50 a.m. at a polling site in Dong District, a voter ripped up a ballot paper after following his mother into a voting booth, according to police and the National Election Commission (NEC).

The man, who came with his elderly mother, went into his mother's voting booth after his mother asked for help.

An election official who witnessed the scene stopped the man and told him that his mother's ballot would be invalid as "ballots that a third person has seen must be invalidated."

The man tore up the ballot paper after being spoken to.

The NEC is considering whether to file a report against the man for damaging the ballot paper.

According to the Public Official Election Act, those who damage a ballot paper may be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison, or fined between 5 million won ($3,700) and 30 million won.

At 7:20 a.m., a report was received stating someone had set up a camera in front of a polling station in Gwangsan District and was filming the area.

It was later confirmed that a YouTuber was taking footage of voters from across the street.

Although the YouTuber did not violate the Public Official Election Act, as the YouTuber was not filming inside the voting site, the NEC asked the YouTuber to leave the premises.

The commission said the YouTuber's actions could have a psychological impact on voters.

Another voting site in Gwangsan District experienced a noise issue on Wednesday morning.

Locals were concerned about a Ramadan event scheduled to go ahead from 7:00 a.m. near a voting site in Gwangsan District, but no conflicts were reported during the voting process.

Police had requested beforehand that the group refrain from using audio equipment.

The April 10 general election started at 6:00 a.m. and is scheduled to end at 6:00 p.m.

The election will decide which politicians make up the 22nd National Assembly.

BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]