Prime Minister Kim Condemns Protesters’ Unauthorized Access Restrictions at Jamsil as "Serious Illegal Acts...Strict Response Ordered"

The 26th Cabinet Meeting and the 23rd Emergency Economic Headquarters Meeting

Prime Minister Minseok Kim commented on the actions of some protesters at the Jamsil vote-counting center who arbitrarily restricted access on June 16, stating, "Such acts are completely unrelated to the purpose of the protest, and privately controlling access for those who are authorized to enter is, under any circumstances, a grave illegal act that can never be tolerated."

Prime Minister Minseok Kim is speaking at the Cabinet Meeting and Emergency Economic Headquarters Meeting held on June 16 at the Government Seoul Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul. 2026.6.16 Photo by Yongjun Cho

Chairing the 26th Cabinet Meeting and the 23rd Emergency Economic Headquarters Meeting at the Government Seoul Building that morning, Prime Minister Kim said, "The government humbly listens to and respects the public's legitimate concerns about the infringement of suffrage." However, he emphasized, "It can never be justified for some protesters to use this situation as a pretext to infringe upon the rights of others."

Prime Minister Kim rhetorically asked, "How serious must the situation be for the president of a sports association to request the deployment of law enforcement?" He continued, "Why should I be subjected to inspection when I am simply going to my own office? How can it be justified to prevent fencing athletes from taking out their fencing swords? What are we supposed to do in such a case?" He further criticized, "The vote counting on site has already been completed, so on what grounds are they blocking legitimate passage? There is no justification for such actions."

Prime Minister Kim stated, "The government will respond firmly to these illegal acts as part of a strict enforcement policy," and directed the police, "For illegal acts, take immediate action on the spot in accordance with the law and principles. For suspected violations, collect evidence and pursue those responsible to the very end, holding them strictly accountable." He also requested, "Take all necessary protective measures so that sports officials can safely enter and focus on their work," and emphasized, "The government has a firm stance that, along with protecting the people's suffrage, democratic order must also be respected and safeguarded."

Meanwhile, regarding the conclusion of ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran, Prime Minister Kim remarked, "We must not let down our guard until the very end," and instructed, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries should maintain close cooperation with the relevant countries to ensure that all 24 Korean vessels and their crews in the Strait of Hormuz can safely return to Korea."

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