"Hands Clasped in Plea" Kim Jong-in Appeals... Conservative Groups Also File Large-Scale Rally Notification for Hangul Day

Some Conservative Groups Announce Large-Scale Rallies on Hangeul Day Following Gaecheonjeol
Police Issue Ban Notices but Concerns Over Defiance Remain
Political Circles Urge Restraint on Gatherings Amid COVID-19 Situation
Ruling Party Calls Gaecheonjeol Rally an Antisocial Act, Demands Strong Response
Opposition Appeals to Postpone Rallies During Critical Times

A rally condemning the government and the ruling party held in front of Donghwa Duty Free Shop in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of August 15. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] It has been confirmed that some conservative groups have also reported large-scale rallies in major downtown areas of Seoul on October 9, Hangul Day, which falls the week after National Foundation Day. Although the police have issued bans on all gatherings to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), there are concerns that if these groups proceed with their rallies, COVID-19 infections could surge again.

According to multiple media reports on the 10th, some conservative groups such as the Liberty Solidarity Ten Million Innocent Release Movement Headquarters (Seokbon) have reported plans to hold rallies over two days, October 9 and 10, during the Hangul Day holiday, in the Gwanghwamun and Jongno areas of Seoul.

Among them, Liberty Solidarity has reported rallies at five locations near Gwanghwamun and plans to hold gatherings with a total of 6,000 people over the two days to condemn government and ruling party officials. Meanwhile, Seokbon has reported plans to hold a rally with 8,000 participants and a march at Sejong-ro Small Park and Hyoja Police Center in Jongno-gu.

These conservative groups had also announced plans to hold large-scale rallies on October 3, National Foundation Day. If these rallies proceed as scheduled, tens of thousands of people could gather in downtown Seoul.

The police have issued bans on these conservative group rallies in accordance with the Seoul Metropolitan Government's administrative order prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people throughout Seoul. However, there are concerns that, as with the Gwanghwamun Liberation Day rally held on August 15 last month, these groups may file administrative lawsuits against the rally bans in court.

In fact, before the Gwanghwamun rally, conservative groups filed injunction requests with the court, claiming that "the Seoul Metropolitan Government's rally ban order fundamentally infringed on the freedom of assembly."

The court granted injunctions for two out of ten requests for suspension of execution on August 14, one day before the rally.

The next day, the conservative groups proceeded with the rally as planned. According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of the 5th, the cumulative number of COVID-19 confirmed cases related to the Gwanghwamun rally reached 510. Of these, 254 cases occurred in the metropolitan area, and 256 cases were reported outside the metropolitan area.

On the afternoon of August 15th, participants of the rallies condemning the government and the ruling party, including Sarang Jeil Church and Liberty Solidarity, filled the streets of Sejong-daero, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

Given this situation, voices in the political sphere are growing louder, urging restraint in holding rallies on National Foundation Day and Hangul Day.

In particular, the ruling party, the Democratic Party of Korea, has labeled these rallies as "antisocial acts" and called for the use of public authority to stop them.

Kim Tae-nyeon, the floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at a high-level party-government meeting held at the Prime Minister's official residence in Samcheong-dong, Jongno-gu, on the 6th, "We strongly request the government to firmly exercise public authority under the principle of zero tolerance against antisocial acts that hinder quarantine," emphasizing, "Many citizens are enduring inconvenience, but antisocial acts that undermine quarantine are repeatedly occurring in parts of society."

On the same day, Roh Woong-rae, a Supreme Council member of the same party, strongly criticized on Facebook, saying, "The National Foundation Day rally is not a simple protest but a terrorist act aimed at paralyzing the national quarantine system and government functions," and urged, "All possible public authority should be mobilized to preemptively block the rally and severely punish the ringleaders of this terrorist group disguised as far-right."

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party / Photo by Yonhap News

Calls for restraint on large-scale rallies have also come from the People Power Party.

Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, appealed at the party's emergency committee meeting held at the National Assembly on the 10th, saying, "This is a critical moment when the entire nation must unite to overcome COVID-19 or face collapse," and added, "At this moment when we cannot predict tomorrow, I sincerely ask you to postpone the rallies and stand together with your neighbors and the people."

Chairman Kim also encouraged the rally participants by comparing them to "our ancestors who participated in the March 1st Movement." He said, "I am deeply moved thinking of our ancestors who, despite 130,000 compatriots dying from the 1919 Spanish flu and the entire country being in panic, risked their lives out of patriotism to participate in the March 1st Movement," and added, "As someone involved in politics, I also feel a sense of apology."

He continued, "The memories of this administration's unfairness and national governance failure, deeply engraved in the minds of all citizens, will never be erased," emphasizing, "Your restrained anger will gain more support and sympathy and mature among the people."