▲ Protest at the Jamsil vote counting center on the 14th
The blockade protest at the Jamsil vote counting center, which had seen a decline in size during the week, is showing signs of becoming a long-term standoff as numbers surged again over the weekend.
The protest has grown back to the 10,000-person range as members of the 2030 generation, who argue that "this situation is not a matter of left-wing or right-wing ideology," have joined those claiming election fraud, leaving the police deeply concerned about how to respond.
As of 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 14, approximately 600 people, according to unofficial police estimates, have gathered around the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, to continue the protest.
At its peak on Saturday, June 13, at 10:30 p.m., the number of protesters reached approximately 19,000.
A recurring pattern has emerged where the number of participants decreases during the early morning and morning hours, only to increase sharply during the day and evening.
While the slogans at the site were unified as "re-election" last weekend, a variety of demands are being shouted this weekend, including "re-election due to fraudulent voting" and "manual counting of same-day ballots."
Voices singing the national anthem were also heard intermittently.
The number of people camping out in tents or mosquito nets in front of the gates has increased, and leaflets featuring the South Korean flag are plastered across park facilities, including automated parking payment machines.
Demands for an "international investigation through U.S.-South Korea cooperation" regarding the current situation were also visible.
As the protest lacks a clear organizer, the police have limited legal grounds to take proactive measures.
Unlike the blockade at the Jamsil 7-dong No. 2 polling station, which lasted for three days and two nights, Olympic Park is located away from residential areas, resulting in relatively fewer complaints regarding noise and other disturbances.
Furthermore, as the vote counting has already been completed, it is difficult for the police to justify intervening in the current protest on the grounds of protecting election administration.
With the protest entering its tenth day, the police have determined that immediate dispersal is impossible and are preparing for a long-term standoff.
A police official stated, "We believe the situation will only be resolved once the protesters' demands are addressed to some extent through means such as lawsuits to nullify the election, parliamentary investigations, or joint investigations by the prosecution and police."
The police plan to guarantee peaceful protests while responding strictly to individual illegal acts.
There is speculation that the obstruction of business for sports organizations due to the blockade of the handball gymnasium, which is leading to actual damages, could become a turning point in the situation.
Sports organizations are scheduled to hold a press conference on June 15 to demand access to the gymnasium.
It is expected that they will attempt to enter the facility again in coordination with the police.
Police investigations are also underway regarding the search of belongings of the youth handball representative team players and the assault on a broadcast reporter.
Although two previous requests have been dismissed, changes in the situation on the ground are also expected if the court issues an order to preserve the ballot boxes and ballots inside the counting center.
Experts predict that the momentum of the protests will continue for the time being, compounded by controversies over the National Election Commission's administrative failures.
Jeon Sang-jin, a professor of sociology at Sogang University, said, "The protest site has taken on a symbolic meaning related to the shortage of ballot papers," adding, "It is difficult for this to be resolved quickly as the National Election Commission's poor administration continues to be exposed."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.