Police in Seoul plan to investigate a woman who staged a solo blockade of a gymnasium used as a ballot-counting center for the June 3 local elections. The woman prevented sports officials from entering the facility for two hours.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions and potential legal repercussions related to protests concerning election integrity and ballot handling following local elections.
Police in Seoul plan to investigate a woman who staged a solo blockade of a gymnasium used as a ballot-counting center for the June 3 local elections, officials said Wednesday.
The woman, whose identity was not immediately known, prevented sports officials from entering the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium on Tuesday by physically blocking the entrance. This occurred after other protesters, who had been blocking access to the facility and demanding a re-run of the elections, agreed to let the officials inside.
Sports groups affiliated with the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee have been unable to access their offices within the gymnasium since June 5, when protesters began their blockade to prevent the removal of ballot boxes. The Seoul Songpa Police Station stated its intention to investigate the woman who stood in front of a gymnasium gate, refusing to move until measures were taken to preserve the ballots and ballot boxes inside.
The sports officials eventually withdrew after the solo blockade persisted for approximately two hours. Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the main opposition People Power Party, had mediated an agreement between the initial protesters and the sports groups at the scene to resolve the standoff.
A police official declined to provide specific details about the investigation but affirmed the police's commitment to sternly address illegal acts by protesters. Meanwhile, protests continued outside the gymnasium for the 13th day over ballot paper shortages, which had temporarily suspended voting at 26 polling stations during the elections. The election watchdog has apologized for the shortages but stated they do not warrant a rerun. A joint police and prosecution investigation into the shortages is ongoing.