Lawmakers of the Democratic Party of Korea tried to enter the Handball Arena at Olympic Park in Songpa District, Seoul, but turned back after being blocked by protesters.
On the morning of the 17th, Cheon Jun-ho, the Democratic Party floor operations senior deputy chief, Jeon Yong-gi, the floor communications senior deputy chief, and lawmaker Lim Oh-kyung visited the Handball Arena at Olympic Park with Ryu Seung-min, president of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC). It is the site where protesters, denouncing the shortage of ballot papers in the June 3 local elections, are staging a blockade of the ballot-counting center. While many People Power Party lawmakers have visited, this is the first time Democratic Party lawmakers have come here.
The Democratic Party lawmakers approached Gate 2-1 of the Handball Arena but were blocked by hundreds of protesters. As participants shouted "rigged election" and "give us our suffrage," they eventually withdrew.
Cheon, the senior floor official, said, "We respect your voices as you seek to protect the people's suffrage," and added, "The ruling and opposition parties are moving to agree on a parliamentary investigation, so I believe it will lead to a thorough fact-finding process you want and help with institutional reform plans." They asked that officials of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) be guaranteed free passage, but the request was not accepted.
The Democratic Party lawmakers held a meeting with officials of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), who are using offices inside the Handball Arena, and discussed ways to normalize operations. According to the KSOC, nine bodies are housed in the Handball Arena: billiards, dancesport, mountaineering, sepak takraw, water skiing and wakeboarding, underwater and finswimming, wushu, fencing, and handball.
After the meeting, Cheon said, "The shortage of ballot papers infringed on the people's suffrage, and many citizens are protesting about it. Those voices should be respected and are important, but the activities of athletes representing the nation at world competitions must also be guaranteed."
Lim, a former handball player, said, "All the equipment of athletes from the sport governing bodies is kept at the federation," and added, "Each and every person is appealing that they are exposed on YouTube and feel their personal safety is threatened."