Court denies arrest warrants for two accused of assaulting police at vote counting site

A court has refused to issue arrest warrants for two men in their 20s who are accused of assaulting police officers outside a vote counting center in Seoul's Songpa District. The Seoul Eastern District Court cited a lack of evidence suggesting the suspects posed a flight risk or would attempt to destroy evidence.

The incident occurred on June 5 when the two men allegedly accosted police officers from the Songpa Police Station. According to reports, the suspects grabbed and pulled at the officers' arms. Their actions were reportedly motivated by a belief that the police officers were disguised election commission staff, a claim they made while blocking the officers from entering the counting venue after ballot boxes had been transferred.

Police had initially identified three suspects in connection with the assault. Arrest warrants were sought only for these two individuals, deemed to have had a greater involvement in the alleged offense. The police also investigated a third individual for allegedly posting false information about the incident on social media, in violation of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection.

“

There is no risk of evidence destruction or flight.