Police to investigate woman who blockaded Seoul gymnasium used for ballot counting

SEOUL, June 17 (Yonhap) -- Police plan to investigate a woman who staged a solo blockade of a gymnasium used as a ballot-counting center for the June 3 local elections in southern Seoul, officials said Wednesday.

The woman, whose identity was not immediately known, prevented sports officials from entering the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium on Tuesday by physically blocking the entrance after protesters, who have blocked access to the facility while demanding a re-run of the local elections, agreed to let them inside.

Sports groups under the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee have been unable to access their offices inside the gymnasium since June 5, when the protesters began a blockade to prevent the removal of ballot boxes.

The Seoul Songpa Police Station said it plans to investigate the woman who stood in front of one of the gymnasium's gates and refused to move until measures were taken for the preservation of ballots and ballot boxes inside.

The sports officials ultimately withdrew from the scene after the solo blockade continued for about two hours.

Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the main opposition People Power Party, had mediated the agreement between the protesters and the sports groups at the scene to end the standoff between the two sides.

A police official declined to offer details of the investigation, but the police have vowed to sternly respond to illegal acts by protesters.

Meanwhile, protesters continued to rally around the gymnasium for the 13th day Wednesday over the ballot paper shortages, which temporarily suspended voting at 26 polling stations during the elections.

A group of lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party (DP), including Rep. Cheon Jun-ho, tried to approach the gymnasium in the morning but was forced to turn back after protesters surrounded them and called for them to leave.

Before leaving the area, Cheon said the ruling and opposition parties would work together to determine the circumstances behind the ballot shortages, but noted that obstruction of the business of sports organizations was unacceptable.

The election watchdog has apologized over the ballot shortages but has said they do not warrant a rerun. A joint police and prosecution investigation is under way into the shortages.