Police Attempt to Enter Olympic Park Ballot Counting Center Amid Standoff with Protesters

Attempt to Enter by Dialogue Police Around 9 a.m.

The police attempted to enter the ballot counting center at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul, where protests and blockades have continued due to the shortage of ballot papers during the 9th nationwide local elections. However, a standoff persists as protesters continue to resist.

Police officers are deployed around the Handball Stadium in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the 14th. Photo by Yonhap News

According to the Songpa Police Station in Seoul, around 9 a.m. on June 16, the police tried to enter the ballot counting center set up at the Handball Stadium in Olympic Park, but were unable to do so due to a confrontation with protesters at the site. A police official stated, "I have been delegated authority by the police chief, and since illegal activities may occur, the investigative agency will issue a warning broadcast," adding, "If anyone obstructs or interferes with Korea Sports Association officials trying to enter the building, it may constitute the crime of obstructing business."

Some citizens reacted even more strongly to the warning broadcast, but the police repeatedly urged, "Please cooperate so that officials from the Korea Sports Association can enter the building," and warned again, "The investigative agency will record all actions."

Sports organizations affiliated with the Korea Sports Association, which are based in this stadium, have been unable to enter the facility for more than ten days since the ballot box from Jamsil 7-dong No. 2 polling station was moved on June 5. Yoo Seungmin, President of the Korea Sports Association, stated at a press conference the previous day, "I urge that public authority be exercised as soon as possible to normalize work at the very least."

The police are investigating 15 cases of illegal activity that occurred during the protest in front of the ballot counting center. Park Jeongbo, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, warned at a press briefing the previous day, "Illegal acts committed by groups wielding collective power are punished much more severely than individual crimes," adding, "If you are found to have aided or abetted such acts and are charged as an accomplice, it could ruin your life."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.