Election protester blocks gym entry despite deal to let sports officials in

Police and sports organization officials failed to enter the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in southern Seoul's Songpa District on Tuesday after one protester refused to let them in, even though protesters and politicians had agreed to allow them in for their professional duties.

Earlier in the day, Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP), had appealed to protesters to allow sports organization officials back into their offices inside the gymnasium. Despite his efforts and a negotiated compromise, the entrance remained blocked, and no officials managed to enter the building.

The news came on the 12th day of protests held outside the gymnasium, with demonstrators demanding a do-over of the June 3 local elections, during which a shortage of ballots forced some voters in Songpa District to vote well after the official 6 p.m. deadline.

"We’ll lose the moral grounds for what we're doing here if we end up preventing the national team athletes from competing," Jang said on Tuesday afternoon. "I'm not here to give you orders. I'm asking for your agreement."

Earlier in the day, protesters blocked police and officials from sports organizations housed in the gymnasium from entering the building.

As a result of the standoff, the national fencing team left for India on Tuesday for the Asian Fencing Championships without retrieving their personal equipment, such as fencing weapons, from the gymnasium. Instead, the athletes reportedly brought borrowed gear to India.

Earlier in the day, Jang and PPP members negotiated with the crowd at the site and reached an agreement allowing sports organization officials to enter the building one by one.

Under the protesters' conditions, no computer equipment could be removed from the facility. The protesters agreed to allow two representatives from each organization to enter, accompanied by two live-broadcast camera crews and lawmakers. Protesters also demanded that body searches be conducted when leaving the gymnasium.

"Let [only the camera crews] go in to broadcast everything live and have the employees describe what they need so someone can bring it out to them," one citizen suggested.

However, when officials attempted to enter under the agreed plan, a protester physically blocked the entrance.

Several participants shouted “Absolutely no way” or “Do not open the door” and opposed the attempt to enter.

As the standoff dragged on throughout the day, divisions within the protest movement became increasingly apparent.

One participant argued that sports organizations should be allowed to enter the building, claiming they had been "holding the line here for 117 hours." The remark sparked an argument, with another protester responding, "How are we supposed to trust that?"

Frustration also mounted toward the end of the day when the protester continued to block the entrance, preventing the agreed-upon entry plan from proceeding.

Some demonstrators accused the individual of "deliberately sabotaging" the effort. Still, the protester fended off any attempts to enter the building.

"I haven't changed my mind about protecting what's inside," the protester said. "I was prepared to get hurt if necessary."

When Jang and several PPP lawmakers — including Supreme Council member Kim Min-soo and lawmakers Park Jun-tae, Kim Jang-kyom, Kim Mi-ae, Kim Tae-kyu, Suh Myung-ok and Kim Meen-geon — arrived at the scene, crowds cheered.

Rep. Park met with police officers at the site as Jang planted himself in front of the entrance as a barricade.

"If President Lee Jae Myung and the Democratic Party continue to try to forcibly disperse protesters without providing any answers, they will ultimately have to answer to the people,” said Jang. "The biggest priority is responding to the demand for an election do-over and an investigation by a special counsel."

The government stood opposed to the standoff.

"There have been numerous illegal acts during the demonstrations that violate the law and public order," announced Minister of the Interior and Safety Yun Ho-jung in a public address on Tuesday. "Acts that undermine the rule of law in our society, such as conducting private inspections or occupying facilities, cannot be justified for any reason."

Yun emphasized that restricting access for authorized personnel, obstructing legitimate official duties or insulting police officers are serious criminal acts that infringe on the rights of others under the pretext of protecting voting rights and cannot be tolerated.

"We will respond sternly to excessive misconduct and illegal acts committed by some individuals under the pretext of the public's legitimate anger," wrote Justice Minister Jung Sung-ho on Facebook on Tuesday. "The right to free expression and assembly does not come with the right to threaten or ridicule others, conduct private inspections or impose private sanctions."

Jung added that allegations of voting rights violations were serious and warranted a thorough investigation and accountability. At the same time, he drew a clear line regarding the conduct of some protesters at Olympic Park.

"The indiscriminate private inspections, threats, effective confinement, baseless accusations targeting Chinese nationals and obstruction of business carried out by some individuals against police officers, ordinary citizens, journalists, Korean Sport & Olympic Committee staff and athletes at Olympic Park are all clear violations of the law," Jung wrote. "They are punishable offenses committed in the act."

"We deeply regret these illegal acts," criticized Acting National Police Agency chief Yoo Jae-sung. "Police are investigating individual cases of unlawful conduct."

BY SON SUNG-BAE, KWAK JOO-YOUNG, LEE GYU-RIM, IM SOUNG-BIN [[email protected]]