Sports Organizations Return to Offices After 90 Days... "Will Do Their Best to Ensure No Setbacks to the Asian Games"

[Financial News] Sports organizations occupying the Olympic Park handball gymnasium entered their offices for the first time in about 90 days and removed work-related items such as computers and documents. The measure was taken to restore operations at least minimally amid concerns that support for athletes could be disrupted ahead of the Asian Games opening in Japan on the 19th. The sports organizations urged that the situation be resolved promptly, saying they had experienced difficulties in their work because they had been unable to use their offices for an extended period.
Kim Dae-nyeon, secretary general of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), said on the 8th in front of the Olympic Park handball gymnasium in Songpa-gu, Seoul, "There are 15 sports organizations in the handball gymnasium, and there have been many difficulties over the past 90 days." He added, "Although preparations have been difficult, now that we have taken out the equipment and documents, we will examine them carefully and do our best to ensure that the operation of the team is not disrupted."
Sports organizations occupying the handball gymnasium had been unable to use their offices normally for about three months since June 5. The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) officially requested police assistance with access to the gymnasium on the 10th of last month and the 4th of this month.
On this day, the sports organizations entered their offices and first removed items necessary for work, including computer towers, laptops, official seals and various documents. It was reported that equipment needed to prepare for the Asian Games was also taken out, depending on the characteristics of each sport.
Ham Se-hee, secretary general of the Korea Underwater Finswimming Association and a representative of a sports organization, explained, "We have been carrying out our work from a temporary office," adding, "You can consider this the removal of the minimum items necessary to perform our duties, such as computer hard drives, laptops, documents and official seals."
The sports organizations appealed for the situation to be resolved promptly, saying that their offices had not been fully normalized despite the removal of the items. Secretary General Ham said, "We will remain faithful to our core duties and do our best to successfully hold the Asian Games," adding, "We hope the matter will be normalized as soon as possible so that we can return to our workplaces and perform our duties."
The police also judged that the damage to the tenant organizations could increase because major events in the sports world, such as the Asian Games, were approaching. They explained that the Asian Games would be held in Japan from the 19th of this month to the 4th of next month, and that applications for the early admissions process for physical education departments for the 2027 academic year had begun on the 7th.
Meanwhile, the police deployed 28 riot police units, 50 dialogue police officers and 100 detectives to the scene in preparation for any contingencies. According to the police, four officials from the special prosecutor's office, six officials from the National Election Commission (NEC) and five officials from the Korea Sports Industry Development, which manages the gymnasium, monitored the scene. The deputy chief of public safety at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency took overall command.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency stated, "The free expression of opinions by ordinary citizens is also a fundamental right of the people and must naturally be protected and respected." It added, "However, we will respond strictly in accordance with the law and principles to clear illegal acts, such as obstructing the entry of organizations occupying the gymnasium or assaulting, defaming or coercing police officers and public officials."
[email protected] Lee Dong-hyeok Reporter