(EDITORIAL from Korea JoongAng Daily on June 18) (opens original article in a new tab)

A Seoul protest over ballot shortages blocked access to a sports gymnasium, disrupting international competitions and drawing criticism of political leaders, police, and election authorities for their handling of the situation.

• Protesters blocked access to a Seoul gymnasium housing sports federations, disrupting national teams' preparations
• Police failed to intervene as officials were denied access, leading to athletes using borrowed equipment
• Political leaders and authorities share responsibility for ballot shortages and improper protest handling
• Court-ordered evidence preservation excludes ballot papers, raising concerns about transparency