Police have launched an investigation into incidents at the "Jamsil ballot-counting center blockade protest," including a search of the women's junior handball national team's belongings and the assault of a reporter from a news outlet.
The Korean National Police Agency said on the 12th it identified one participant in the women's junior handball national team coercion case and requested the person appear the same day. Police began the investigation on the 10th and are identifying the remaining participants.
The women's junior handball national team, ahead of competing at the Women's Junior World Championship on the 8th, tried to take balls and training equipment out of the handball arena. During the process, some protesters reportedly searched the players' bags and inspected their belongings.
Police also secured evidence related to the assault on a JTBC reporting crew and are pursuing the suspects. Earlier, JTBC said protest participants surrounded the crew, blocked their movement, demanded identification, and committed assaults such as throwing cellphones or shoving, and the outlet began legal action.
The Korean National Police Agency said it will actively support, protect, and fully ensure that the public can express their legitimate opinions related to voting rights without inconvenience, but it will conduct a stern investigation into illegal acts that undermine democratic order by exploiting such situations to obstruct others' free passage or entry, or to defame or insult police officers.
It added that it will hold perpetrators legally accountable by mobilizing all available resources to track and apprehend those who commit illegal acts such as assault, defamation, or coercion against citizens, reporters, or police to the very end.