Hand clappers filling the Jamsil Olympic Park area. ⒸHanmi Ilbo

The June 3rd election incident is a great tragedy for democracy in the Republic of Korea. This is not a simple, low-level technical issue of a "rigged election" or "flawed election." It is a grave constitutional crisis where the constitution, the foundation of the Republic of Korea, has been violated and collapsed.

The protest blockading the Jamsil vote counting center and the subsequent anger of the 2030 youth and students in front of the Olympic Stadium are not mere rallies or one-person protests. They are legitimate exercises of the right that every citizen of the Republic of Korea must undertake to secure their inherent right to participate in politics and their rights guaranteed by the constitution.

This is a natural consequence of the National Election Commission's blatant deprivation of the fundamental rights of the people as stipulated by the constitution. Despite this, the Lee Jae-myung administration and its subordinate power agencies are harboring the arrogant delusion of trying to block the immense wave of public anger with shallow tricks.

In particular, the complacent and unconstitutional behavior of the police leadership, including Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner Park Jeong-bo, cannot go without a stern warning. In the current situation where the constitution is being ruthlessly violated, the most essential mission of the police, as the people's police, is to protect the sovereign citizens who are calling for the defense of the constitution.

However, the police leadership deployed thousands of intimidating police forces at the beginning of the protest and committed horrific 'state violence' by brutally dragging out elderly people and women who were peacefully demonstrating. This is a clear unconstitutional act of violence against the sovereign citizens, and it served as the fuse that ignited the public's fury.

Furthermore, police officers at the protest site were deployed in large numbers, with their faces covered by masks and dark sunglasses, and without even name tags indicating their identity. For the police, who should be the "cane of the people," to conceal their faces and identities and use force against sovereign citizens who have come out to defend the constitution – this is the typical reality of 'state violence' that the Lee Jae-myung administration constantly talks about.

A warning to Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner Park Jeong-bo! Remember the undeniable fact that the police exist solely for the people, not as lackeys of the regime. At a press conference on the 15th, Commissioner Park, instead of offering a formal apology for the abuse of authority and state violence, unleashed a torrent of intimidating words such as "strict response," "application of special coercion," "possible 10-year imprisonment," and "ruin your life."

For the head of public authority to resort to threats against sovereign citizens peacefully asserting their rights is an act of violence with 'zero democratic sensibility,' completely oblivious to the current situation.

We are clearly witnessing the historical truth that the torch of democratic action, extinguished for 30 years, has been rekindled today in 2026 at universities nationwide, which were the main force of democratization in the Republic of Korea.

This is seen as the students' rod of conscience, refusing to tolerate any longer the arrogance and monopolization of privileged groups in politics, media, labor, and NGOs by the Lee Jae-myung administration. The government and public authorities should immediately return to the initial spirit of democracy, truly serving the people.

We strongly urge the following, incorporating the demands of the great citizens who have risen to defend the constitution:

First, Seoul Metropolitan Police Commissioner Park Jeong-bo must immediately cease threatening sovereign citizens and offer a formal apology to the public for the 'state violence' committed during the initial enforcement of public authority!

Second, the police must immediately stop acts of intimidating the public as agents of the regime and fulfill their inherent duty to protect the young students and citizens who have taken to the streets to defend the constitution!

Third, the wearing of masks and dark sunglasses by all police officers deployed to assembly and protest sites must be immediately prohibited, and they must be ordered to wear name tags!

Fourth, be particularly mindful that the fundamental cause of the escalation of peaceful assemblies and protests was the police's blind role as regime henchmen and the resulting excessive exercise of public authority!

Fifth, Korea Sports Promotion Foundation Chairman Yoo Seung-min must actively participate in the people's actions to overcome the tragedy of democracy in the Republic of Korea! Immediately refrain from anti-democratic machinations of filing complaints against legitimate protestors in agreement with the government's tricks!

Sixth, 2030 young students and free citizens should actively cooperate in sports administration by establishing a rational system to guarantee the inherent operational conditions of sports organizations.

Seventh, media companies and journalists engaging in distorted reporting, awaken! The act of downplaying and distorting a historical event where thousands gathered by claiming only 100 were present is an act that has lost the fairness and accuracy of the media, and it deserves the stern condemnation of the sovereign citizens!

The June 3rd election incident is a great tragedy for the democracy of the Republic of Korea, surpassing the March 15th rigged election of the past. The Lee Jae-myung administration and power agencies must keenly recognize their sin of abandoning their duty of power entrusted by the sovereign citizens and listen to the voice of the enraged public!

Also, remember the fact that power is short-lived, but the people are eternal!

June 16, 2026

Korea NGO Federation

Freedom and Solidarity, Joint Committee for Countering Media Terrorism, Alliance of Free Civil Society Organizations, National Movement to Expel Criminals, National Labor Union, National Construction Industry Labor Union, Lawyers' Association for the Freedom and Human Rights of the People, National Alliance for Revitalizing Public Education, National Alliance of Korean Veterans for Freedom, Social Design Institute, Freedom College Scholarship Foundation, National Alliance for Liberal Democracy, Liberty Solidarity, Liberal Justice Citizens' Alliance, Citizen Association for the Re-establishment of the Jeju April 3rd Incident, Citizens' Association for Guarding the US Embassy, Center for Inmate Human Rights, Public Interest Watch Center, Federation of Patriotic Organizations, Korean Patriotic Citizens Alliance, Cultural Square Cheonggwang, Movement to Block Chosun-Joong-Dong, National Alliance for Free Culture, Movement to Abolish Inheritance Tax, International Cultural Development Center, Lifework, Corporate Support Team, Blue House Opening Festival Committee, Association of Free Press Journalists, Federation for a Transparent World in the Republic of Korea, Samsung Minority Shareholders' Association, Korean Freedom Eagles Corps, Consumer Sovereignty Action, Citizens' Alliance for Educational Freedom in Gyeonggi, Parents' Association for Education and Science, Seoul Education Future Alliance