▲ People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyuk visits the ballot counting station at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium on June 16, where protests have been ongoing following the June 3 local elections in Songpa-gu, Seoul.
Attempts by staff from sports organizations to enter the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in Songpa-gu, Seoul—currently occupied by protesters claiming a "shortage of ballot papers"—failed again today (June 16) after more than three hours of effort.
As People Power Party (PPP) officials, including party leader Jang Dong-hyuk, arrived at the scene one after another to support the protesters, the possibility of a forced entry facilitated by police has diminished.
A standoff between staff from sports organizations under the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee and the protesters began around 9:00 a.m. today in front of Gate 2-1 of the gymnasium.
Some protesters had initially accepted a proposal from the sports committee to form an entry team with an equal number of police, staff, and protesters to monitor activities inside the gymnasium. However, the plan fell through due to strong opposition from other participants who rushed to the gate.
The protesters have become more unified as PPP officials began arriving at the scene, starting with Representative Park Jun-tae at 10:30 a.m., followed by Supreme Council member Kim Min-soo and Representative Kim Mi-ae.
Addressing the participants, Supreme Council member Kim said, "How can it be considered an illegal act or a violent protest when citizens gathered at Olympic Park are calling for a 're-election due to election fraud' to protect their right to vote?"
Party leader Jang, who arrived at the scene around 11:35 a.m., began a sit-in protest directly in front of Gate 2-1.
Jang told reporters, "While the President is on an overseas trip, orders for forced dispersal have been issued, and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner threatened citizens and youth yesterday, mentioning 'ruining their lives,'" adding, "What the citizens want now is a re-election, a special counsel, and reform of the National Election Commission."
He continued, "The priority should not be forced dispersal, but responding to the voices of citizens demanding a re-election and a special counsel. We must provide that answer and then resolve the subsequent issues with the citizens. The People Power Party will stand guard here."
The Songpa Police Station in Seoul announced its policy of "strict investigation" against the protesters after issuing three warning broadcasts today.
An official from the Songpa Police Station warned at 9:52 a.m., "Obstructing or interfering with officials from the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee as they enter the building may constitute obstruction of business under the Criminal Act."
The police issued similar broadcasts at 10:05 a.m. and 10:40 a.m., asking for cooperation to allow the sports committee staff to reach their workplaces, but the protesters did not end their occupation.
Subsequently, the Songpa Police Station announced in a statement to the press at 12:15 p.m., "Despite repeated warnings and attempts to persuade them that obstructing the work of the sports committee could lead to legal action, the illegal situation has not been resolved," adding, "We will immediately launch an investigation based on collected evidence and handle the matter strictly according to the law."
The sports organizations have been unable to access their offices for 12 days, as protesters have blocked all entrances and windows of the handball gymnasium since the 5th.
The protesters have been controlling access, claiming they must prevent the removal of ballot boxes after the counting process.
The sports organizations have attempted to negotiate with the protesters multiple times to gain entry but have failed to reach a consensus.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.