As protests continue in front of the Olympic Park Handball Arena (Songpa District ballot-counting site) in Seoul over the ballot shortage that occurred during the 9th nationwide local elections (June 3 local elections), police reiterated that they would respond strictly to illegal acts.
On the 15th, at a regular press briefing, Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner Park Jeong-bo said, "The stop-and-search of youth handball players by some protesters is a serious crime that flaunted the power of a crowd, and we are investigating it as the felony of special coercion," adding, "The sentence for special coercion is up to 10 years in prison, which is very severe." Park also said, "If you thoughtlessly go along with illegal acts and end up being treated as an accomplice, you could ruin your life."
Park, the Commissioner, also said, "Individual crimes arising from disputes among protest participants are something each person must take responsibility for, but those who commit illegal acts by leveraging the power of a crowd are punished much more severely," adding, "If you thoughtlessly go along with such acts, you may later face a situation where you have to take heavy responsibility."
Police are also investigating an incident in which a JTBC reporter covering the Handball Arena was assaulted and unlawfully confined. Park, the Commissioner, said, "We are investigating by applying the charge of unlawful arrest and confinement," adding, "We have identified three active participants, and we plan to look into those who abetted alongside them."
Park, the Commissioner, also warned that in situations where sports organizations based at the Handball Arena are blocked by some protesters and cannot enter, "the offense of obstruction of business may be established." He added, "If obstruction of business occurs and related illegal acts are confirmed, we will handle them strictly," and said, "We are continuously collecting evidence and will make sure to pursue judicial action afterward."
Police said they are investigating 15 illegal acts that occurred at protest sites, including three cases of insulting police officers.
Park, the Commissioner, described the protest as "a public forum where citizens who see the ballot shortage as an infringement of suffrage gathered voluntarily to express their views." Park added, "Peaceful expression of opinion is a constitutional right of the people, and the police will actively guarantee it," but said, "We will, of course, deal strictly with illegal acts such as the insulting of police officers and infringements of rights by some participants."