Arrest Warrant Denied for Woman in Her 30s Who Blocked Vote Counting Station: "No Risk of Evidence Destruction or Flight"

A woman who blocked sports organization staff from entering an office, claiming she was guarding the vote counting station set up at the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium, has avoided arrest.

Judge Seo Beom-jun, in charge of warrant reviews at the Seoul Eastern District Court, dismissed the arrest warrant for the woman in her 30s, identified as A, after conducting a pre-arrest interrogation on July 21 regarding charges of obstruction of business.

Regarding the reason for the dismissal, the court stated, "There is no recognized risk of evidence destruction or flight."

The woman, known as "Ol-darc" (a portmanteau of Olympic Park and Joan of Arc) in conservative online communities, is accused of blocking the entry of sports organization staff on June 16, despite an agreement reached by People Power Party representative Jang Dong-hyuk and other protesters.

At the time, she wrapped a U.S. flag around her waist and held onto the door alone for approximately two hours, ignoring attempts at persuasion by representative Jang and Korea Sport & Olympic Committee President Lee Kee-heung.

The arrest warrant requested for A reportedly stated that she committed a serious crime of obstruction of business by neutralizing agreements made by a National Assembly member of the main opposition party, the president of the sports association, and the police, leaving the resolution of the vote counting station blockade uncertain. It further argued that strict punishment is necessary to prevent the emergence of "second or third Ol-darc" figures.

A expressed her position through her YouTube account, claiming that this was a subjective interpretation by investigative agencies.

Before appearing for police questioning on July 10, she told reporters, "I decided that if a price must be paid to protect liberal democracy, I would gladly pay it," adding, "I thought that a serious problem had occurred and the election should not be concluded."

On the same day, Judge Seo also dismissed an arrest warrant for a man in his 30s accused of illegal search (special coercion) of the women's junior handball national team, who entered the handball gymnasium on June 8.

The court similarly determined there was no risk of evidence destruction or flight in that case.

Meanwhile, among three men accused of obstructing special public duties by swearing at police officers and blocking the path at the vote counting station on June 6, an arrest warrant was issued for only one of them.

Judge Seo determined that, unlike the other two, this man posed a flight risk considering the gravity of the crime.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.