'Oldark,' who blocked access to a vote-counting station, indicted without detention on obstruction charges

[Financial News] A woman in her 30s who blocked sports organization staff from entering a vote-counting station during the June 3 local elections, earning the nickname “Oldark” (“the Joan of Arc of Olympic Park”), has been indicted on obstruction charges. Although police’s request for a detention warrant was rejected, prosecutors concluded that blocking the staff from entering for about two hours amounted to obstruction of business.
According to legal sources on the 11th, the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office indicted A, a woman in her 30s, without detention on obstruction charges on the 9th.
A is accused of obstructing sports organization employees from entering the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium in Seoul on June 16. Investigators said that she wrapped an American flag around her waist, held on to the entrance door handle and blocked the employees from entering for about two hours.
The incident occurred during protests that continued at the vote-counting station in the Handball Gymnasium following a shortage of ballots during the June 3 local elections. A came to be called “Oldark” among supporters after images of her standing alone to block the entrance became known.
Police sought a detention warrant in July, believing that A might undermine an agreement reached by lawmakers, the head of the sports association, police and others, and prolong the blockade of the vote-counting station. The court rejected the warrant, citing a lack of concern that she would destroy evidence or flee.
Police later investigated A without detaining her and referred her case to the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office on the 31st of the same month.
After the detention warrant was rejected, A appeared on a YouTube channel run by her lawyer, where she spoke about life in a detention cell and made remarks about First Lady Kim Keon-hee.
Meanwhile, A was elected to the Supreme Council of the Freedom & Innovation Party, led by former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, on the 7th and is currently active.

[email protected] Lee Dong-hyeok Reporter