Lead

Sports officials were unable to enter a gymnasium in southern Seoul that served as a ballot-counting center for the June 3 local elections on Tuesday, after a protester blocked their entry despite an earlier agreement between the two sides. The officials were asked to withdraw from the site due to "circumstances" that made their entry difficult, according to Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), some two hours after he said protesters had agreed to allow the officials to enter and potentially end a 12-day standoff.

Coverage Comparison

Yonhap News Agency reported that one protester, wearing an American flag around her waist, stood in front of the gate and resisted, preventing the officials from entering. The PPP leader and other protesters tried to persuade her to step aside, but she refused, Jang said. Police plan to investigate the woman, whose identity was not immediately known, according to officials. The Seoul Songpa Police Station said it plans to investigate the woman who stood in front of one of the gymnasium's gates and refused to move until measures were taken for the preservation of ballots and ballot boxes inside. A police official declined to offer details of the investigation, but the police have vowed to sternly respond to illegal acts by protesters.

The sports officials ultimately withdrew from the scene after the solo blockade continued for about two hours. Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the PPP, had mediated the agreement between the protesters and the sports groups at the scene to end the standoff. Reports also noted that the Sports Minister voiced his frustration on social media, saying the blockade was "extremely regrettable" and that the protesters had no right to use "merciless and cruel violence" on innocent sports people.

Key Claims

  • Sports officials failed to enter the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium, used as a ballot-counting center, after a protester blocked their entry despite an earlier agreement.
  • The protester, wearing an American flag around her waist, refused to step aside despite persuasion from the PPP leader and other protesters.
  • The vote count for the local elections has already been completed.
  • Police plan to investigate the woman who staged the solo blockade.
  • The sports organizations have been unable to access their offices inside the gymnasium since June 5, when the protesters began the blockade to prevent the removal of ballot boxes.
  • The election watchdog has apologized over the ballot shortages but has said they do not warrant a rerun. A joint police and prosecution investigation is under way into the shortages.
  • The standoff has disrupted national sports teams, with the national fencing team departing for the Asian Championships without their personal equipment, relying on borrowed gear instead.

Perspectives

Protesters: They demand a rerun of the June 3 local elections, which were tainted by unprecedented ballot shortages at 26 voting stations. They have blocked access to the gymnasium to prevent the removal of ballot boxes and to ensure the preservation of ballots.

Sports Officials and Groups: Officials from sports organizations under the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee have been unable to access their offices inside the gymnasium since June 5, disrupting their work and preparations for international competitions.

People Power Party (PPP): The party's leader, Rep. Jang Dong-hyeok, mediated an agreement between protesters and sports groups to allow officials to enter, but the effort failed when one protester refused to move. The PPP also scheduled live broadcasts of the process under their oversight.

Police: The Seoul Songpa Police Station plans to investigate the woman who blocked the entrance and has vowed to sternly respond to illegal acts by protesters.