Protesters Chant "Fraudulent Election, Hold New Vote"... Authorities Consider "Obstruction of Business" Charges for Blocking Access

[Anchor]

Let’s go live to the ballot counting station at Olympic Park to check the current situation.

Kwon Min-kyu, is there any possibility of further attempts to enter the facility today, June 16?

[Reporter]

A dozen protesters are still holding their ground, waving American flags in front of Gate 2-1 of the Handball Gymnasium, where tensions over access to the stadium persisted throughout the day. Dozens more are gathered in the surrounding area.

The female protester who was blocking the door alone earlier this afternoon is no longer visible.

With the members of the National Assembly and sports organizations having all departed, the protesters continue to chant, "Fraudulent election, hold a new vote."

[Anchor]

They failed to gain entry again today. What are the plans for the sports organizations moving forward?

[Reporter]

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee stated they were even willing to accept entering alongside the protesters, but they are now perplexed that the entry attempt ultimately failed.

A committee official pointed out, "We cannot get in because public authority is not being properly enforced."

They further appealed that the situation is causing significant damage, including disruptions to preparations for the Incheon World Finswimming Championships, which are scheduled to begin on the 22nd.

For now, the committee plans to support the administrative tasks of sports organizations from a temporary office.

[Anchor]

The government has also issued an additional statement, correct?

[Reporter]

Yes. Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung stated in a public address, "It is deeply regrettable that numerous illegal cases infringing upon law and social order have occurred at some protest sites."

[Yoon Ho-jung / Minister of the Interior and Safety: 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.]

Prime Minister Kim Min-seok also criticized the situation, stating, "There is no explanation as to by what right they are blocking legitimate passage." Minister of Justice Jung Sung-ho emphasized on social media that "private inspections and private confinement are grounds for punishment as flagrant offenses."

The police are currently considering applying charges of obstruction of business against the female protester who blocked the entrance this afternoon.

(Video reporting: Kim Han-gyul, Video editing: Lee Sang-min)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.