Potential Clash at Gaecheonjeol Rally... 1,000-Person Demonstration Reported in Downtown Seoul

Concerns Over Large-Scale COVID-19 Resurgence Triggered by Gatherings

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] Concerns are emerging that the nightmare of a large-scale resurgence of COVID-19 infections triggered by rallies might be replayed due to some conservative groups insisting on holding a Gaecheonjeol rally.

While conservative groups plan to hold a large-scale Gaecheonjeol rally in downtown Seoul, the government has classified it as an illegal assembly and plans to respond strongly with forced dispersal and on-site arrests.

The "8·15 Rally Participants National Emergency Countermeasures Committee," formed mainly by conservative groups that participated in last month's Liberation Day rally, held a press conference on the 16th in front of Jongno Police Station in Seoul and reported to the police that they will hold a rally with about 1,000 participants on the sidewalk and three lanes in front of Sejongno Small Park in Jongno-gu on the 3rd of next month.

They criticized the government's recent ban on rallies as "trampling on basic rights to silence the people's voices" and urged, "The Moon Jae-in administration must guarantee the freedom of assembly and association explicitly stipulated in the Constitution."

They also stated that all rally participants will maintain a 2-meter distance front and back, wear masks, and comply with quarantine rules such as using hand sanitizer.

Last year on Gaecheonjeol, opposition parties including the Liberty Korea Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) and conservative groups led by Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon’s "National Struggle Headquarters for the Resignation of Moon Jae-in" held a large-scale rally criticizing the current government at Gwanghwamun Square.

The government has repeatedly announced a strong response principle, including banning rallies of more than 10 people, amid concerns that if a large-scale Gaecheonjeol rally is held, crowds from across the country could gather, potentially causing the COVID-19 spread, which had just begun to subside, to intensify again.

Kim Kang-lip, the spokesperson for the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) and First Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, said at a regular briefing that day, "Large-scale rallies involve many people gathering nationwide and shouting slogans, which increases the risk of infection spread due to droplet emission," adding, "If the rally is forcibly held, we will promptly proceed with dispersal procedures and strictly investigate illegal acts without exception through on-site arrests and evidence collection."

Son Young-rae, head of the Strategic Planning Division of the Central Accident Response Headquarters and spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Welfare, also emphasized, "According to the 'Assembly and Demonstration Act,' not only the organizers of illegal rallies but also participants can be sentenced to imprisonment of up to six months or fined up to 500,000 won," and stressed, "If illegal rallies are forcibly held, we will use appropriate means to forcibly disperse them."

According to the CDSCH, a total of 435 rallies have been reported in Seoul on Gaecheonjeol day so far. Among them, 87 rallies with 10 or more participants or those reported in banned areas such as Jongno have been prohibited.

Meanwhile, the government plans to ban rallies with fewer than 10 participants if they are judged to be risky.