Key facts
- A special parliamentary committee investigated ballot shortages from the June 3 local elections.
- The committee entered the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium, a vote counting venue blockaded by protesters.
- Protesters demanding an election rerun clashed outside the venue.
- Police cleared protesters to allow committee access, deploying around 2,000 personnel.
- The inspection lasted about 40 minutes.
- Emergency responders were dispatched after a protester collapsed.
Members of a special parliamentary committee investigating ballot shortages that marred the June 3 local elections entered a vote counting venue on Thursday that had been blockaded by protesters. The Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southern Seoul had been blockaded since June 5 by protesters demanding a rerun of the elections. Police cleared protesters from the stadium entrance to allow the committee access for an inspection that lasted approximately 40 minutes. Scuffles were witnessed outside the stadium, with some protesters shoving each other and tearing American flags. Some protesters continued to blockade the stadium, stating they would only allow entry to special counsel investigators or those with a warrant. Police separated the protesters and deployed around 2,000 personnel to the site. Emergency responders were also dispatched after a protester reportedly collapsed. Earlier, the committee visited the Songpa District Election Commission, where election officials briefed them on ballot paper management on election day.