Tenant sports organizations at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, where a "blockade protest" is ongoing, and lawmakers from the People Power Party agreed to enter the building, but the plan fell through again after some protesters objected.
Starting at about 4:05 p.m. on the 16th, protesters tied the 2-1 entrance of the Handball Gymnasium with ropes and wrapped it with blue tape. Officials from the sports organizations also left.
Earlier, through Representative Jang's mediation, they agreed that two people from each of the nine sports bodies with offices inside the Handball Gymnasium would enter in sequence to retrieve items needed for work. They also agreed that two broadcast cameras would go in to livestream the situation inside, and that protesters would be able to check the items being taken out.
However, a female protester blocked the 2-1 entrance of the Handball Gymnasium. Other protesters tried to persuade her to step aside, but the female protester stayed in place for more than an hour.
People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok also said, "If even one person is blocking the door, that person's wishes must be respected," adding that he would not force entry.
At the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium, protests have continued since on the 5th to denounce the shortage of ballot papers in the 9th nationwide local elections held simultaneously (the June 3 local elections).
The nine sports organizations housed in the Handball Gymnasium have demanded access, saying their operations are paralyzed due to the prolonged blockade. Protesters have refused to lift the blockade, saying ballot boxes and other items inside the Handball Gymnasium could be taken out.