▲ Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung (center) speaks during the 'Public Statement on the Infringement of Voting Rights and Collective Protests Near the Jamsil Vote-Counting Station' held at the briefing room of the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on June 16.
Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung addressed the ongoing protests blocking the vote-counting station at Jamsil Olympic Park following the ballot paper shortage incident in the local elections, stating, "Acts that undermine the rule of law in our society, such as private inspections or the occupation of facilities, cannot be justified for any reason."
In a public statement delivered at the Government Complex Seoul this afternoon (June 16), Minister Yoon said, "It is deeply regrettable that as the protests have dragged on for over ten days, numerous illegal cases infringing upon the law and social order have occurred during some of the demonstrations."
The protests denouncing the National Election Commission, which have been taking place around the Jamsil Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium since the June 3 local election ballot shortage, reached their 12th day today.
Controversy surrounding illegal acts during the protests has intensified following recent incidents, including 'private inspections' where some protesters blocked and attempted to search the belongings of youth national handball players. This was followed by incidents where participants were labeled as 'spies' for opposing claims of election fraud, and a reporter was assaulted after finishing coverage at the counting station.
Minister Yoon warned, "The government will guarantee legal protests aimed at correcting the infringement of voting rights and restoring democracy to the fullest extent permitted by law." However, he added, "Acts such as privately controlling the access of authorized personnel, obstructing legitimate official duties, or groundlessly insulting police officers are serious criminal acts that infringe upon the rights of others under the pretext of voting rights, and will never be tolerated."
He emphasized, "We will track down and hold strictly accountable those responsible for all acts that infringe upon the lives and safety of citizens."
Furthermore, Minister Yoon stated, "We will implement strong measures against the spread of false information that threatens public order, such as deleting related posts and blocking accounts." He added, "We will cooperate closely with relevant agencies and take all possible measures to ensure the safety and daily lives of legitimate protesters and sports personnel, and to swiftly restore public trust in elections, the flower of democracy."
Minister Yoon also announced that he would push for a thorough investigation into the truth of the situation and improvements to the system.
"The right to vote is a constitutional right that must not be restricted or infringed upon for any reason," Minister Yoon said. "We are committed to uncovering the full truth of this situation through a swift investigation by a joint prosecution-police investigation headquarters and clearly identifying where responsibility lies."
He further stated, "We will establish a deliberative forum involving various sectors of society, including youth representatives, and will actively cooperate in identifying problems with the election management system and preparing improvement plans through a parliamentary investigation."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.