Election protesters, sports officials locked in standoff over entry to ballot-counting center

SEOUL, June 16 (Yonhap) -- Election protesters were locked in a tense standoff with sports officials Tuesday as their blockade of a gymnasium used for the June 3 local elections continued for the 12th straight day. Members of organizations under the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee attempted to enter the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in Seoul's southern Songpa Ward starting at 9 a.m. but were blocked by protesters demanding a rerun of the elections tainted by unprecedented ballot shortages at 26 voting stations across the nation. The sports organizations have been unable to access their offices housed inside the gymnasium since June 5, when the protesters began the blockade to prevent the removal of ballot boxes that were brought there for vote counting. The vote count for the local elections has already been completed. During the standoff, some protesters initially agreed to forming a monitoring team composed of an equal number of police officers and sports organization staff to oversee activities inside the gym. The agreement later fell through due to fierce backlash from other protesters. Police officers made three broadcasts in the morning warning the protesters of criminal punishment for obstruction of business. Protesters, who demand a rerun of the June 3 local elections marred by ballot shortages, block sports officials from entering their offices housed inside the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in Seoul's southern Songpa Ward on June 16, 2026. The officials have been unable to go inside the gymnasium, which served as a ballot-counting site for the local elections, since June 5, when protesters began restricting outside access, claiming they must prevent the removal of ballot boxes. (Yonhap) yusbvtyhtoo@yna.co.kr(END) Articles with issue keywords Most Liked Jung Kyung-ho, Choi Soo-young part ways after 14 years of dating (News Focus) N. Korea, China reaffirm ties, silent on nuclear issues Ex-election watchdog chief banned from leaving country amid ballot shortage probe BTS' 'Arirang' lands on Billboard 200 for 11th straight week Ulsan Ulju Mountain Film Festival to highlight Slovenian cinema Most Saved (News Focus) N. Korea, China reaffirm ties, silent on nuclear issues Jung Kyung-ho, Choi Soo-young part ways after 14 years of dating (2nd LD) (News Focus) Summit shows China more focused on countering U. S. influence than curbing N. K. nukes: experts Nat'l Assembly begins procedure for potential probe on election ballot shortage (3rd LD) N. Korea, China vow new era of ties in Kim-Xi summit: KCNA