South Korean Handball Team Stopped, Bags Searched by Election Protestors in Seoul

A group of South Korean U20 women's handball players faced an unusual and unsettling encounter with protestors outside the Olympic Park Stadium in Seoul. The athletes, clad in their national team uniforms, were attempting to retrieve training equipment for an upcoming international competition.

However, protestors who had gathered to demonstrate against alleged irregularities in the recent local elections blocked their path. The demonstrators, who had been occupying the area where ballot boxes were stored, questioned the athletes' identities, with one protestor reportedly saying, "How do I know they are really handball players?" Some demanded the players provide proof, such as match videos, for verification.

After a tense standoff, during which one player pleaded for passage, the protestors eventually allowed the team to enter briefly. The situation escalated again when the players exited the stadium approximately 24 minutes later. They were surrounded by the crowd, who insisted on searching their bags. The protestors reportedly pushed the national team players during the bag search.

The U20 women's handball team was preparing for the 25th World Youth Handball Championship scheduled to begin in Jinzhong City, Shanxi Province, China, on June 24.

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How do I know they are really handball players?