Lead

Police in Seoul said Thursday they have applied for an arrest warrant for a woman who staged a solo blockade of a vote counting center last month, as reported by Yonhap News Agency. The woman is accused of obstructing business by standing outside a door to the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in southern Seoul on June 16, preventing sports groups based at the stadium from entering. The gymnasium had been used as a ballot counting center for the June 3 local elections.

Coverage Comparison

The Seoul Songpa Police Station said it applied for the warrant on charges of obstruction of business, according to Yonhap. The same report noted that the woman had refused to move despite an agreement brokered by Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the main opposition People Power Party, which allowed sports officials to enter their offices inside the gym.

A second Yonhap report added that the Seoul Eastern District Court is scheduled to hold an arrest warrant hearing on the case on Tuesday. It also provided additional details about other warrants sought by police.

Key Claims

  • A woman staged a solo blockade of the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium on June 16, preventing sports groups from entering, as reported by Yonhap.
  • Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the main opposition People Power Party, brokered an agreement for sports officials to enter their offices, but the woman refused to move, according to Yonhap.
  • Police applied for an arrest warrant for the woman on charges of obstruction of business, as stated by the Seoul Songpa Police Station and reported by Yonhap.
  • Police also requested an arrest warrant for a man in his 30s on charges of illegally searching through personal belongings of members of the national women's youth handball team outside the stadium on June 8, according to Yonhap.
  • In a related development, Yonhap reported that police sought warrants to arrest three men in their 20s on charges of cursing at police officers and obstructing their duty.
  • The protests began after shortages of ballot papers were reported at multiple polling stations on election day, causing some voters to turn back without casting their ballots, as reported by Yonhap.

Context

The June 3 local elections were marred by reports of ballot paper shortages at multiple polling stations, which led to protests demanding a rerun of the vote. The woman's blockade of the counting center occurred on June 16, more than a week after the election, amid ongoing demonstrations. The Seoul Eastern District Court is scheduled to hold an arrest warrant hearing on the case on Tuesday, according to Yonhap.