Minister Choi Hwi-young Warns: "Illegal Blockade of Handball Gymnasium Will Be Fully Prosecuted"

Entry to Handball Gymnasium Blocked Despite Mediation by People Power Party
Fencing Team Hit Hard, Forced to Borrow Equipment for International Competition
"Brutal Violence Against Athletes... Hypocritical Actions Must Stop"

On June 16, Choi Hwi-young, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, issued a warning to those involved in the blockade protest at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium, stating, "If illegal activities continue, the government will mobilize all available legal measures to hold those responsible to account until the end."

Minister Choi took this position via social networking services (SNS) on the same day, defining the blockade of the Handball Gymnasium as an illegal act. He issued this statement after the anticipated entry into the Handball Gymnasium, which was expected to take place for the first time in 11 days following an agreement with the protesters that morning, ultimately failed.

It was reported that lawmakers from the People Power Party mediated that morning and managed to obtain the protesters' consent to allow entry into the Handball Gymnasium. However, the situation deteriorated again as some hardline protesters held onto the door handles, insisting, "We cannot allow entry under any circumstances." There were also growing voices among the protesters opposing entry, leading to a split in opinions, and ultimately, officials from the Korea Sports Council were unable to enter.

On the 16th, the 12th consecutive day of protests blocking the Jamsil ballot counting center triggered by the shortage of ballot papers in the June 3 local elections, citizens held the door in front of the handball stadium counting center at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul, to block the entry of officials from the People Power Party and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Minister Choi stated, "It seemed that the unauthorized blockade of the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium would be lifted temporarily, but it was thwarted due to the intense opposition of some protesters," adding, "It is extremely regrettable."

As the protesters continued the blockade of the gymnasium, member sports organizations under the Korea Sports Council, which are housed in the Handball Gymnasium, have been unable to carry out their work as normal. The Handball Gymnasium is home to nine organizations: billiards, dance sports, mountaineering, sepak takraw, water skiing and wakeboarding, underwater and finswimming, wushu, fencing, and handball.

National fencing team members including Oh Sangwook, Song Sera, Jeon Hayoung, and Do Kyungdong departed for New Delhi, India, where the Asian Fencing Championships are being held, on the morning of June 16, borrowing equipment from other athletes. Due to the illegal occupation protest, they were ultimately unable to retrieve their equipment stored at the Handball Gymnasium.

Minister Choi criticized the protesters, saying, "That place is a workplace where our athletes shed blood and sweat for the future of Korean sports," and asked, "Why are you taking away the athletes' base, and with what right are you inflicting such merciless and brutal violence on innocent sportspeople?" He continued, "End the illegal blockade of the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium and withdraw immediately," and urged, "Stop using the livelihoods of unrelated sportspeople as hostages, paralyzing operations and hypocritically packaging this as a legitimate demand." He added, "Stop immediately the cowardly acts of trampling on the rights of others and inflicting enormous damage while contaminating the genuine concerns of citizens regarding suffrage violations," and warned, "If these continued warnings are ignored and illegal acts persist, the government will mobilize all available legal measures to hold those responsible fully accountable."

The Songpa Police Station announced in a press release at 12:15 p.m. that "from 9:00 a.m. for about two hours, officials from the Korea Sports Council attempted to enter their offices in order to prepare for international competitions and normalize essential work such as accounting, but were blocked by some citizens." The police added, "Accompanying officers repeatedly warned and tried to persuade those impeding the work of the Korea Sports Council that such actions may be subject to judicial action, but the illegal situation was not resolved," and stated, "We will immediately launch an investigation based on collected evidence and take strict judicial action."

Yoon Hojoong, Minister of the Interior and Safety, also made a public statement, saying, "The government will guarantee, to the fullest extent permitted by law, all legitimate assemblies aimed at correcting suffrage violations and restoring democracy," but emphasized, "Acts that undermine the rule of law in our society, such as private checkpoints or occupation of facilities, cannot be justified under any circumstances." He continued, "Any actions that threaten the lives and safety of the people will be pursued to the end and strict accountability will be enforced."

Yoo Seungmin, President of the Korea Sports Council, also held a press conference at Olympic Parktel the previous day, warning, "The damage to sports organizations caused by the Jamsil counting center protest is increasing," and declared, "We will thoroughly investigate the relevant facts and consider all legal responses, including civil and criminal liability."

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