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Sports groups demand police intervention as Seoul stadium protest disrupts international preparations
🇰🇷 South Korea /Culture & Society

Sports groups demand police intervention as Seoul stadium protest disrupts international preparations

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Ongoing story
  • Protesters blockading a handball stadium in Seoul have disrupted the operations of nine sports organizations, including preparations for international competitions.
  • The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee chairman requested police intervention, citing over 6 billion won in financial damages and administrative paralysis for athletes and coaches.
  • Sports groups are considering legal action against the protesters, who are demonstrating over ballot shortages in the recent local elections.

Sports organizations in Seoul are suffering significant operational damage due to a protest blockade at the Olympic Park handball stadium. The blockade, initiated by demonstrators protesting ballot shortages in the 9th National Simultaneous Local Elections, has entered its second week, disrupting the work of nine sports groups housed in the stadium.

We will thoroughly investigate the facts of the current obstruction of business and damages and review all legal responses, including civil and criminal liability.

— Yu Seung-minChairman of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, speaking at a press conference about the damages caused by the protest.

Yu Seung-min, chairman of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, has formally requested police intervention, citing financial losses exceeding 6 billion won and administrative paralysis affecting athletes and coaches. "We will thoroughly investigate the facts of the current obstruction of business and damages and review all legal responses, including civil and criminal liability," Yu stated at a press conference.

The affected organizations reported that preparations for major international competitions are in jeopardy. Fencing national team athletes, scheduled to depart for the Asian Championships in New Delhi on June 16, are unable to retrieve their equipment from the blocked stadium. "Fencing swords, jackets, and shoes that athletes are accustomed to using are in the office (which is blocked), forcing us to borrow equipment for preparation," said an official from the Korea Fencing Federation.

Fencing swords, jackets, and shoes that athletes are accustomed to using are in the office (which is blocked), forcing us to borrow equipment for preparation.

— Korea Fencing Federation officialDescribing the difficulties faced by athletes due to the stadium blockade.

Similarly, the Korea Underwater & Finswimming Association, preparing to host the World Finswimming Championships in Incheon on June 22, expressed concerns about potential safety incidents and the long-term impact on their ability to host international events. Police have indicated a willingness to take strong action, with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency chief warning that participants in illegal activities could face ruin and that charges such as special coercion and unlawful detention could be applied.

We have a kayak club in the city. They have their own contingency plan for situations where blue-green algae are detected.

— Francis DebruyneRoeselare alderman explaining the city's response to blue-green algae.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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