Jamsil Counting Center Blockade Enters Second Week as Sports Groups Demand Return to Work

As the blockade of the Jamsil Counting Center, used during the June 3 local elections, entered its second week on June 11, sports organizations located at the site appealed for their workplaces to be returned. In response, some citizens shouted accusations of "fraudulent elections" and "re-elections." The federation struggled to read its appeal and had to relocate to conduct a press conference amid the chaos.

At 8 a.m., the area in front of the Olympic Handball Stadium was relatively calm. Citizens stood in place shouting phrases like "fraudulent elections, re-elections, same-day counting, and manual counting." Volunteers distributed sunscreen and water to encourage participation. A group of young people in their 20s and 30s sat at the entrance of the handball stadium, blocking access to the counting center.

Crowds began to gather around 9 a.m., 30 minutes before the federation's press conference was set to start. Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty and Innovation Party, visited the site, and Jeon Han-gil, a former instructor, conducted a live broadcast on YouTube with Kim Hyun-tae, a former commander of the Army Special Warfare Command's 707th Special Mission Battalion, in front of the handball stadium. Jeon referred to the Election Commission as a "criminal organization" and urged officials to make a "declaration of conscience."

The federation's press conference, which began around 9:20 a.m., faced disruptions from loud protests by citizens. Employees from nine organizations, including the Korea Fencing Federation and the Korea Underwater Sports Federation, stood wearing masks and holding signs that read, "We want to return to our workplace" and "Both voting rights and the right to sports happiness are important."

As the federation's secretary general announced the start of the press conference, some citizens shouted, "Take off your masks and hold the press conference!" and "We can't live without a country!" Others demanded the federation hold the press conference at the Election Commission, insisting, "Don't become a historical criminal." Despite the noise, the sports organizations continued their appeal, stating, "We want to return to our workplace," but their voices were barely audible even to reporters present. One protester unplugged the microphone amplifier prepared by the federation, further hindering communication, and the press conference ended in disarray.
After the outdoor press conference, some clashes occurred. A middle-aged woman opposed to the federation's press conference chased staff, shouting, "Go to the National Assembly! I came all the way here without sleep, and what are you doing?" Another citizen criticized some media outlets, saying, "You should report the facts; if the broadcasts had been accurate, this wouldn't have happened." Some volunteers urged, "Let’s not fight; let’s just guard the entrance to the counting center," but the heightened tension persisted.

The federation later conducted a press conference at a separate location. They stated that negotiations with the protesting citizens to access the stadium on June 9 and 10 had failed. A federation official explained, "We had agreed that two representatives from each organization would enter on the evening of the 9th, but we were blocked by a crowd of over 100 people. On the 10th, we attempted negotiations with police present, but again, it fell through."

They also reported that their request to retrieve only essential items for banking, such as OTP devices, corporate cards, and seals, was denied. Federation representatives unanimously expressed, "We want to return to our workplace," urging the government and relevant authorities to resolve the situation swiftly.

The secretary general of the Korea Fencing Federation noted, "The Asian Championships are scheduled for next week, and we need to leave on the 16th, but we can't access the necessary equipment or pay entry and accommodation fees." He added, "The Asian Games in September are also affected, as seeding depends on the Asian Championships."

The secretary general of the Korea Underwater Sports Federation expressed similar concerns, stating, "The 24th World Underwater Swimming Championships will be held from June 22 to 29 at the Park Tae-hwan Literary Swimming Center in Incheon, and we need time for venue inspections and other preparations, but we can't access our office and are forced to manage everything via phone."

They pointed out that the intervention of law enforcement was already overdue. Federation representatives stated, "This should have been resolved by now, but the response from law enforcement has been delayed. They have not provided adequate support even until this past Monday, and it needs to be resolved as quickly as possible."