Sports Organizations Fail to Enter Facility Again; Authorities Consider 'Obstruction of Business' Charges

[Anchor]

At the vote-counting center in Seoul Olympic Park, where blockade protests continue, sports organizations failed to enter the facility again yesterday (June 16). One protester blocked the entrance until the end, and the police are now considering applying obstruction of business charges against this woman.

Reporter Jeong Jiyeon has the story.

[Reporter]

In front of Gate 2-1 of the Seoul Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium, where conflict persisted throughout yesterday over whether the resident sports organizations could enter the building.

Even after the lawmakers and sports organization officials had left the scene, the protesters continued to chant slogans calling for a "re-election due to election fraud" late into the night.

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, whose attempt to enter the stadium was thwarted, stated they were even willing to enter alongside the protesters, but expressed bewilderment that it ultimately failed.

A committee official pointed out, "Isn't it the case that we cannot enter because public authority is not being properly enforced?"

The committee appealed that the damage is significant, including setbacks in preparations for the World Finswimming Championships in Incheon scheduled for the 22nd, and announced that it plans to support the administrative work of sports organizations from a temporary office for the time being.

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

[Yoon Ho-jung/Minister of the Interior and Safety: Acts that undermine the legal order of 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, saying, "There is no explanation as to by what right they are blocking legitimate passage," and Minister of Justice Jung Sung-ho emphasized on social media that "private inspections and private confinement are subject to punishment as flagrant offenses."

The police are considering applying charges of obstruction of business against a female protester who blocked the stadium entrance yesterday afternoon.

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