KSOC President Yoo Seung-min Calls for Police Intervention Against Jamsil Protesters

Yoo Seung-min, President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), has requested the intervention of public authorities as the prolonged blockade of the Olympic Park Handball Gymnasium by protesters continues to disrupt operations.

During a press conference held at the Seoul Olympic Parktel in Songpa-gu, Seoul, this afternoon (June 15) alongside nine sports organizations, President Yoo stated, "The financial losses caused by the administrative vacuum have ballooned to 6 billion won, and support for athletes preparing for the Asian Games is facing significant setbacks." He added, "We are requesting the intervention of public authorities to allow us to retrieve essential items necessary for our operations."

According to the KSOC, the prolonged restriction of access to the administrative offices within the Handball Gymnasium has effectively paralyzed core administrative functions, including support for national athletes and preparations for international competitions.

The national fencing team, which is scheduled to participate in the Asian Fencing Championships, and the Korea Underwater Association, which is preparing to host the World Finswimming Championships in Incheon, are struggling as they are unable to retrieve essential training equipment and materials in time.

In his statement, President Yoo declared that he would no longer tolerate the blockade, which has now entered its 10th day, stating, "We will thoroughly investigate the facts and clearly state that we will review all legal response measures, including civil and criminal liability."

He emphasized, "While we respect the freedom of assembly and demonstration guaranteed by the Constitution, no right should be exercised in a way that infringes upon the rights of other citizens or disrupts public functions."

He further raised his voice, saying, "The athletes, coaches, and sports administrators who use this space have nothing to do with the current conflict. This goes beyond mere inconvenience; it is a situation where public duties entrusted by the state are being obstructed and the livelihood of sports personnel is being threatened."

Furthermore, he urged the government and the police to "recognize the severity of the damage to sports organizations and provide a swift resolution to the situation," strongly demanding the immediate guarantee of access to the Handball Gymnasium and the resumption of operations.

Earlier this morning, Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Commissioner Park Jung-bo stated during a regular press briefing regarding the blockade of the sports organizations, "This is a clear illegal act, and we are currently collecting evidence," signaling that charges of obstruction of business would be applied to the protesters.

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