'Sports Organizations' Entry to Olympic Gymnasium Blocked by Citizens, Ultimately Fails

Entry Attempted Since 2 p.m., but Ultimately Failed

Sports organizations under the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee agreed to enter the vote counting station at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul, through mediation by the People Power Party leadership. However, the entry ultimately failed due to opposition from some protest participants.

Around the Handball Stadium in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul, 'Vote Counting Station Blockade Protests' continue. On the 16th, Jang Donghyuk, the leader of the People Power Party, is informing the protest participants about the decision to enter the Handball Stadium. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, stated at around 4 p.m. on June 16 at the protest site in front of the Handball Stadium vote counting station at Olympic Park, "It is currently not possible to retrieve the items, so I have ordered the withdrawal of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee officials."

Earlier, around 2 p.m., Jang and People Power Party lawmakers reached an agreement with the protesters, along with sports organization officials, to enter the Handball Stadium. However, entry was blocked when one protest participant stood in front of the door. At around 2:50 p.m., Jang stated, "Currently, one person is blocking the entrance, so it is not possible to enter the site. We will continue to try to persuade them, but if even one person blocks the door, we have no intention of proceeding by force."

Previously, the police also attempted to help Korean Sport & Olympic Committee officials enter the offices at the Handball Stadium for two hours from 9 a.m. that day, but the attempt was thwarted by some citizens blocking the way.

Since the ballot box from Jamsil 7-dong No. 2 polling station was moved on June 5, sports organizations under the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, based at the stadium, have been unable to enter the facility for more than ten days. Yoo Seungmin, president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, stated at a press conference the previous day, "At the very least, I request that public authority be exercised as soon as possible to normalize our work."

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