"6 Billion Won in Losses": Sports Groups Renew Calls for Police Intervention Against Protests

[Anchor]

Sports organizations have once again called for the intervention of public authority regarding the ongoing blockade protests at the vote-counting station in Seoul Olympic Park. The police have announced a stern response, including the potential application of charges for obstruction of business.

Reporter Lim Ji-hyun has the story.

[Reporter]

Nine sports organizations housed in the handball stadium at Seoul Olympic Park, which has been under a blockade protest for 11 days, held another press conference.

Yoo Seung-min, President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, stepped forward to appeal for help, citing damages and requesting the intervention of public authority once again.

[Yoo Seung-min / President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee: Because they have not opened the doors for 20 minutes, we have suffered over 6 billion won in financial losses, and the administrative work for athletes and coaches has been paralyzed. The survival rights of sports personnel are being infringed upon.]

It is not just the national fencing team, who need to retrieve their equipment from the stadium to depart for an international competition tomorrow, but also the Korea Underwater Association, which must prepare for an international event in Incheon next week, that says they can no longer wait.

While the sports organizations stated they respect the freedom of assembly and protest, they emphasized that the rights of other citizens and public functions must not be infringed upon.

[Secretary General of the Korea Underwater Association: If there is a disruption in competition operations and a safety accident occurs during the event, our association could face a situation where we are permanently barred from hosting international competitions.]

In response to these requests from the sports groups, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Park Jeong-bo stated during a press briefing that the police are reviewing charges of obstruction of business against the protesters.

This is interpreted as an indication that the police, who had previously sought to resolve the situation through dialogue via police negotiators due to concerns over physical clashes, may now actively deploy public authority.

In particular, regarding the incident on June 8 where the youth national handball team was surrounded and their belongings were searched without authorization, he warned, "Because they displayed the power of a crowd, we have applied charges of special coercion, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison," adding, "Those who thoughtlessly join in illegal activities could face ruin."

The police are currently investigating 15 complaints and accusations, including this incident, as well as assaults on reporters and the mocking of police officers.

Reported by Lim Ji-hyun | Video by Yang Ji-hoon | Video Editing by Lee Sang-min | Graphics by Han Heung-soo
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.