[On the Scene] "Why Are Criminals Going In?" "My Morning Run Is Ruined"... Olympic Park Descends Into Chaos

Special prosecutor begins on-site ballot inspection 147 days after election
About 500 NEC employees enter; more than 3,000 police deployed
Commuters frustrated by roadblocks; clashes break out among protesters in several places

On the morning of Oct. 28, at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul, police had barricaded the path to the Handball Gymnasium, which people usually crossed on their way to work or used for walks, and blocked access. Wreaths lined the area around the gym, and people holding signs had gathered at each entrance. It was the day the special prosecutor team investigating the National Election Commission began its public inspection of ballots, 147 days after the June 3 local elections.

On the morning of the 28th, Lee Taehan, a special prosecutor investigating the ballot shortage during the 9th nationwide local elections, heads to the ballot boxes at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul, to conduct a public inspection. Photo by Park Jaehyun

Police controls tightened as people got closer to the gym. More than 10 wreaths were lined up in front of Entrance 1-1. At Entrance 1-2 nearby, people wearing jackets and vests bearing the logo of the "Olgong Science Verification Team" stood out. Signs around the group read, "Reveal the circumstances and responsibility for the failure to provide ballots" and "The recount is not the end, but the beginning." Some citizens livestreamed the scene with cameras.

Politicians also continued to arrive near the gym. When Jang Donghyuk, leader of the People Power Party, appeared at around 7:40 a.m., protesters shouted, "We believe in you, Chairman!" Jang said, "I am grateful to the people who have guarded Olympic Park without a single break for 147 days," adding, "This must be a public verification that the people can be satisfied with." He then called on the special prosecutor team to thoroughly investigate the allegations raised against it.

Around the same time, Democratic Party of Korea lawmakers held a press conference at an entrance to the nearby Woori Financial Art Hall, calling for a thorough investigation into the allegations. Near the entrance where the press conference was held, some citizens trying to enter clashed with police blocking their way. As the lawmakers moved away, people nearby also shouted, "Democratic Party, get out!"

Citizens gather in front of Exits 1-3 of the Handball Gymnasium at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul, at around 7:30 a.m. on the 28th, ahead of an inspection by the special prosecutor team investigating the ballot shortage and other issues. Photo by Park Hosu

"Do it properly!"

At around 7:45 a.m., as the special prosecutor team headed to the gym, a woman shouted and rushed toward them. A police officer nearby stopped her, and the team, including Special Prosecutor Lee Taehan, proceeded to the gym with police escort. Police surrounded the entrance and kept members of the public back, preventing any major physical clashes.

Shouts grew louder at the entrance used by National Election Commission employees. At around 8:27 a.m., about 500 masked employees walked in a line toward the gym under police protection. Citizens watching them shouted, "Disband the National Election Commission," "Why are criminals going in?" and "Take off your masks." Some also called on reporters to "film inside the media companies." The employees entered through a passage secured by police.

There were also voices criticizing the special prosecutor's investigation. Near the gym, a representative of the National Election Commission public-sector union stood alone, holding a sign that read, "Call for an objective investigation into allegations of human rights violations in the special prosecutor's investigation." The demand was to uncover the truth about the case of a National Election Commission employee who died after being questioned by the special prosecutor. Some YouTubers watching the scene shouted at the union representative, "The National Election Commission killed them" and "Get out, you commie!"

Lee Tae-han, a special prosecutor investigating incidents including a ballot shortage during the 9th nationwide simultaneous local elections, heads to a public verification of ballots at Olympic Park in Songpa-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 28th. Photo by Park Jaehyun

Fights also broke out among YouTubers livestreaming the scene with cameras. As they shouted at one another, protesters nearby appeared uncomfortable. One said, "Why come here and fight when you weren't even shouting?" Another clicked their tongue and said, "It's just YouTubers fighting among themselves. That's their job."

That day, police deployed more than 3,000 personnel, including 48 riot police units, 150 dialogue police officers, and 300 criminal investigation and investigative personnel. They cleared seven tents and signs near the gym entrances to secure access routes, and used barricades to restrict public access. Inside the gym, about 110 members of the special prosecutor team were scheduled to verify the quantity and authenticity of approximately 2.47 million ballots from Songpa-gu. The verification was expected to continue for about 15 hours, until midnight. This verification is different from a recount in the legal sense, which would recalculate the election results.

With police and protesters gathered around the gym, residents using the park experienced disruption. In front of the blocked access route, people cycling to work turned back, while residents out for morning exercise had to find another way. Han (51), a Songpa-gu resident who was cycling to work, said, "I didn't even know the special prosecutor's inspection was happening today, but the police are everywhere and telling me to go around. I'm going to be late at this rate. Didn't they say they were blocking all the roads?" Choi Intaek (39), a Gangdong-gu resident who had taken a day off to go running, also said, "They kept telling me to turn back, so I couldn't even get a proper run in. I understand that this may be necessary for the country, but why should ordinary citizens have to suffer?"

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