South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has urged those protesting over ballot shortages during the June 3 local elections to exercise restraint and avoid infringing on the rights of others. In a social media post on June 15, Lee cautioned demonstrators to keep their activism within reasonable bounds, referencing disruptions to sports organisations operating within Olympic Park in southern Seoul caused by protest activities blocking facility access.

Lee acknowledged the legitimacy of public concern regarding voting rights violations, describing the National Election Commission's (NEC) handling of the election as a serious failure that undermined the democratic process. He pledged to ensure accountability, instructing police to investigate both those who used force to obstruct public access to facilities and any individuals who conspired in such actions.

However, the President drew a sharp distinction between valid criticism of NEC mismanagement and what he termed baseless conspiracy theories about election manipulation. He stated that some groups were exploiting the voting irregularities to promote unfounded claims of fraud, noting that certain individuals spreading such allegations had threatened law enforcement personnel and citizens, conducted unauthorised inspections, and blocked facility access.

Spoken during a video call with senior advisors from the Vatican, Lee's remarks emphasised that accountability must follow legal and institutional channels. He rejected what he called the "absurd" nature of such concerns being levelled at a foundational democratic principle, while maintaining that those responsible for obstructing duties must face consequences in accordance with the law.

Lee called for transparency in investigating the incident and developing preventive measures. He urged the NEC to fully cooperate with a parliamentary investigation set to commence within the week and pressed prosecutors and police to accelerate their joint investigation into responsibility without any exceptions. The President framed the electoral failures as an opportunity to strengthen democratic institutions through constructive dialogue rather than unsubstantiated claims.