As a blockade protest related to the 6·3 local elections has continued for a fourth day around the Handball Gymnasium in Olympic Park, Songpa-gu, Seoul, it has been confirmed that some protesters at one point blocked the junior women handball national team from entering the arena and conducted checks of their belongings, sparking controversy.

At about 9:30 a.m. on the 8th, the junior women handball national team arrived in front of the arena to enter. However, because the venue was sealed off by protesters and others, the team could not go in immediately.

A team official appealed, “We have the World Championship on the 22nd, but we have been unable to train at the arena since Thursday,” and added, “Balls and shoes for the athletes are inside the arena (so access is needed).”

A commotion broke out as the protesters blocked the team from entering. While police controlled the scene and held talks regarding access, some protesters made remarks such as, “This is a situation causing problems nationwide; if they go in once, would that not allow others to go in?” “Are balls only available here?” and “How many balls are you taking out?”

A YouTuber standing nearby then said in effect that entry should not be allowed, stating, “If you keep opening and closing the door like this, there is no standard. The election commission committed a crime, so they cannot go in. Who decides this? Why criticize those who are raising this as a problem?”

One male participant said, “(The players) should take off their socks, should they not?” It seemed to suggest that they could go into the arena and come out with something hidden in their socks, but when police and others warned, “They are underage athletes, and this could cause sexual humiliation,” he backed down. A female participant also opposed entry, saying, “This is a crime scene.”

Among other participants, there were also views that they should be allowed in, such as, “Do not shout at the minors,” and “Do not make the players suffer; let them in.” In the end, after police controlled the scene and consulted, the players were able to enter the arena only around 10:20 a.m.

After gathering the necessary items, the players left the arena at about 10:24 a.m. The protesters then began opening and checking each of the items the players had taken. Since the blockade began, the protesters have conducted their own searches, inspecting every item when goods are brought into or taken out of the convenience store inside the arena. After the protesters finished their checks, the players left the scene.