South Korean Woman Single-Handedly Blocks Sports Group Entry Amid Protests; Police Launch Investigation

(Central News Agency reporter Yang Chi-feng, Seoul, June 17) Protests over missing ballots in South Korea continue to escalate. Although opposition parties and demonstrators reached an agreement yesterday allowing sports groups to enter the stadium offices, one woman single-handedly blocked access for two hours. Seoul's Songpa Police Station will launch an investigation on suspicion of obstruction of business and other charges.

The controversy over missing ballots in South Korea's June 3 local elections persists, with demonstrators still gathering at Olympic Park to protest. The blockade of handball stadium entrances by protesters has prevented sports organizations under the Korea Sports & Olympic Committee from accessing their offices for over 10 consecutive days.

According to Yonhap News Agency today, after demonstrators reached an agreement with Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the conservative opposition party People Power Party, allowing access to the stadium, a woman (referred to as 'A') grabbed the stadium gate and blocked entry for about two hours. Despite attempts by Hwang and others to persuade her, she insisted that vote-counting procedures and evidence preservation of ballot boxes at polling stations must be completed first, and refused to step aside.

After sports group representatives and People Power Party members abandoned their attempt to enter the vote-counting site, the woman left the scene under police protection yesterday. She did not appear at the protest site this morning. Reports indicate that within hardline conservative online communities, she has been nicknamed 'Joan of Arc of Olympic Park'—a shortened form of 'Joan of Arc of the Olympic Park'—for single-handedly blocking entry.

Seoul's Songpa Police Station announced today that it will launch an investigation on suspicion of obstruction of business. Police stated, 'Yesterday, officials from the Korea Sports & Olympic Committee attempted to enter offices inside the handball stadium to prepare for international competitions and handle accounting tasks, but were blocked by some individuals. We are analyzing the extent of damage and evidence to determine whether illegal acts occurred and to identify suspects.'

Additionally, reports state that police are also investigating cases in which some demonstrators insulted officers at the scene. A senior police officer surnamed Kim from Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and his wife filed a complaint yesterday at Songpa Police Station against several conservative YouTubers and others, accusing them of insult and obstruction of official duties.

The accused demonstrators allegedly surrounded and followed Officer Kim for over 30 minutes near the stadium in the early hours of June 6, repeatedly mocking and insulting him with phrases like 'Are you a Chinese police officer?' and posting related videos on social media to humiliate him. After completing victim interviews, police have begun identifying the suspects. (Edited by Wei-Shu) 1150617

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