Protesters at Jamsil Vote Counting Station Referred to Prosecution on Charges Including Obstruction of Justice

▲ Protesters blocking entry to the handball stadium vote counting station

A large number of protesters have been referred to the prosecution for obstructing the execution of official duties during demonstrations at the Jamsil vote counting station, which have continued for over a month following the ballot paper shortage incident during the June 3 local elections.

The Seoul Songpa Police Station announced today, July 8, that it has referred a man in his 60s, identified as A, to the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors Office under arrest on charges of obstruction of justice during the National Assembly's special investigation committee's entry into the counting station.

A is accused of using violence by pushing a police officer who was attempting to remove protesters blocking the special committee's entry at the Olympic Park Handball Stadium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, at approximately 1:10 p.m. on July 2.

The protesters had linked arms to prevent the special committee from entering, insisting that "entry is not allowed without a warrant," before being removed one by one by the police.

Additionally, the Songpa Police Station referred two men in their 20s and one man in his 40s to the prosecution without detention yesterday, July 7, on charges of special obstruction of justice resulting in injury.

They are accused of assaulting police officers on June 5, when ballot boxes from the June 3 local elections were being transported from the Jamsil 7-dong No. 2 polling station to the counting station inside the handball stadium.

At the time, they reportedly committed the acts after blocking the path of the police, claiming that National Election Commission staff were disguised as police officers.

The police also referred a woman in her 20s to the prosecution without detention on July 6 on charges of violating the Information and Communications Network Act for filming the situation and sharing it on social media, thereby spreading their claims.

(Photo: Yonhap News)

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