Olympic Park protests escalate with violence, conspiracy theories

Protests in Seoul's Olympic Park over alleged ballot shortages in the June 3 local elections have intensified, raising concerns about escalating violence and the spread of unfounded conspiracy theories. The demonstrations, now in their third week, saw a dramatic incident on Wednesday night when police arrested a man in his 30s outside the handball stadium.

The arrested man brandished a bladed weapon and threatened bystanders, shouting, "They’re killing people in there!" He was apprehended by riot police and taken to a hospital, where he is reported to be in stable condition. The incident occurred after a video circulated online showing welding work being done inside a stadium doorway, which sparked baseless claims of "human sacrifices" and foul play.

Authorities later clarified that the welding was performed by facility management for security purposes after unauthorized entry attempts by protesters. However, the arrested man's extreme reaction, apparently influenced by these conspiracy theories, has contributed to the proliferation of misinformation. Unfounded assertions about his identity, including claims he was a Chinese exchange student or a paid agitator, are spreading on social media.

During Thursday's protest, inflammatory rhetoric was evident. One elderly man shouted, "The Democratic Party is trying to let Chinese people into our country without visas to win the election." Another woman expressed anger over alleged preferential treatment for ethnic Koreans from China in apartment purchases. These sentiments were met with cheers from fellow protesters, highlighting the charged atmosphere surrounding the demonstrations.