South Korean PM Vows Stern Action Against Illegal Protest Acts

SEOUL, June 16 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Kim Min-seok vowed Tuesday to deal sternly with any illegal acts involved in protests sparked by ballot shortages in this month's local elections amid growing complaints that protesters are restricting entrances to a gymnasium at the center of the rally site.

Hundreds of protesters still remained around SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul's southern district of Jamsil for the 12th consecutive day Tuesday, demanding a rerun of the June 3 mayoral and gubernatorial elections marred by unprecedented ballot shortages that led to suspension of voting at 26 polling stations.

The protests started around the gymnasium because it was used as a vote counting center. But vote counting is now complete, and the facility is no longer used for that purpose, but protesters still block access to the inside of the gymnasium even for those sports officials working there.

"The Jamsil Olympic handball gymnasium has been blocked for more than 10 days. The government humbly respects and listens to people raising legitimate complaints over infringements on their suffrage, but by using this situation as a pretext, some participants violate others' rights and this can never be justified," Kim said.

"This has nothing to do with the purpose of protests and privately restricting those authorized to enter it is a serious crime that can never be tolerated under any circumstances," he said. "Moreover, vote counting has already been completed. There is no reason whatsoever in blocking access. ... The government will respond sternly to this in the context of setting an example."

In a public address later in the day, Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung also voiced regret over illegal activities by some protesters, such as searching through belongings of members of the women's national youth handball team.

Protesters have also been accused of physical assault.

The JTBC branch of the Korean Journalist Association has claimed a protester assaulted one of its reporters when the reporter was trying to leave the gymnasium through a window with the doors blocked.

Video footage of a protester slapping the reporter and throwing the person's smartphone to the ground circulated online.

Police said they have identified the protester and launched a former investigation against the suspect.

"Acts that undermine the rule of law, such as private inspections and occupation of facilities, cannot be justified by any reason," Yun said. "It is very regrettable that numerous illegal incidents violating the law and the public order have been occurring in the course of some protests."

Yun pledged to ensure lawful protests but called acts that violate others' rights, such as restricting access to the stadium, "serious criminal acts" that cannot be accepted.

"All acts that violate the people's lives or safety will be tracked down until the end and will be strictly held accountable," he said.

Protesters have demanded a rerun of the elections.

The National Election Commission has apologized for the ballot shortages, saying it failed to print enough ballot papers due to an incorrect prediction of voter turnout. However, the agency maintained that the shortages neither warrant a rerun nor altered the election results.

A joint investigation team of the prosecution and police is looking into the case.