Over 80 Criminal Cases Reported in Jamsil Counting Center Blockade Protest, Including Assault and Sexual Molestation

Following the shortage of ballots during the June 3 local elections, it has been confirmed that more than 80 criminal cases, including assault and sexual harassment, have been reported in connection with the blockade protest at the ballot counting center at Olympic Park in Songpa District, Seoul.

On the 5th, participants were shouting slogans in front of the entrance to the Handball Gymnasium at Olympic Park in Songpa District, Seoul, amid ongoing "counting station blockade protests" caused by the shortage of ballots for the June 3 local elections. Photo by Yonhap News

According to data from the National Police Agency obtained through Assemblyman Jeong Choon-saeng's office of the National Innovation Party on July 9, a total of 83 cases related to the counting center blockade protest had been reported to the police as of July 6. Of these, 66 cases are under investigation, while 17 have been closed.

By type of offense, assault accounted for the largest number with 31 cases. Including two cases of aggravated assault and two cases of injury, the total number of physical altercations among participants reached 35. There were also eight cases of insult and five cases of defamation under the Information and Communications Network Act. Sexual crimes, including forced molestation, unauthorized filming using cameras, and stalking, were also reported.

The assault cases included incidents such as one participant striking another's cheek with a national flag, pushing a participant while eating a lunchbox and then hitting them in the face, and stepping on a participant's foot and throwing a blanket over a dispute regarding the use of a shared picnic mat. There was also a report of property damage involving the destruction of information notices posted at the protest site.

On July 4, there was a case of forced molestation in which a man touched a woman's thigh and shoulder on a bench in Olympic Park. On the same day, a female participant was reported for violating the Sexual Violence Punishment Act by filming another woman's body with her mobile phone. A stalking incident, in which the victim expressed their refusal but the perpetrator continued to follow and film, was also included in the investigation.

In the early stages of the protest, most cases reported involved obstruction of official duties, such as assault and unlawful detention against police officers. However, starting from mid-June, most cases have occurred among protest participants themselves, including assault, property damage, and defamation.

Meanwhile, police continue to investigate participants accused of obstructing law enforcement. Two men in their 20s and one man in his 40s, who assaulted police officers during the transfer of ballot boxes from the Jamsil 7-dong No. 2 polling station to the counting center on June 5, have been referred to the prosecution without detention on charges of aggravated obstruction of official duties resulting in injury. A man in his 60s, who pushed a police officer during the National Assembly's special investigation committee's attempt to enter the counting center, has been referred for detention on a charge of obstruction of official duties.

Additionally, the Songpa Police Station plans to summon a woman in her 30s on July 10 for questioning as a suspect on a charge of obstruction of business, after she allegedly blocked the entrance to the stadium on June 16 and prevented officials from sports organizations from entering. This woman has been referred to in some online communities by the nickname "Oldarc" (a portmanteau of Olympic Park and Joan of Arc).

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