Kim Jin-tae and Min Kyung-wook: "Let's hold this National Foundation Day rally as a 'drive-thru'"
Ruling party: "Irrational idea," "If COVID-19 spreads again due to the rally, People Power Party must take responsibility"
Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung is holding a press conference appealing to the public regarding the metropolitan area outbreak of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) on August 20 at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Amid calls from some opposition figures to hold the 'Gaecheonjeol rally' scheduled for October 3 in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, in a drive-through format (conducted while remaining in cars), Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, expressed his belief on the 23rd that "political expression should be allowed as long as it does not interfere with quarantine measures."
On the same day, Lee appeared on CBS Radio's 'Sisa Jaki with Jung Kwan-yong' and referred to vehicle protests, saying, "There are various ways to hold rallies, and if the method minimizes infection or poses no risk, I think there is no need to restrict freedom of expression."
This stance contrasts sharply with the earlier strong criticism from the Democratic Party leadership, which labeled the drive-through rally as an "irrational idea."
However, he added, "Gathering face-to-face in close proximity on a large scale shows a lack of consideration for neighbors," and pointed out, "Rallies and protests are meant to gain support from others, not to vent frustrations."
Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the 3rd plenary meeting of the Democratic Party's COVID-19 National Crisis Overcoming Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on September 22. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Meanwhile, voices of criticism against the drive-through rally continue to emerge within the Democratic Party.
No Woong-rae, a senior member of the Democratic Party, said at the party's supreme council meeting, "How can blocking the Gwanghwamun intersection for a rally not interfere with traffic and quarantine measures in a common-sense way?" He added, "Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, requested restraint, but that was just a show. They said they were different from the Gwanghwamun rally forces, but now they are acting like 'we are one' again."
Kim Jong-min, also a senior member of the same party, strongly criticized, calling it "an irrational idea to collaborate with COVID-19 revival forces to paralyze the capital Seoul with COVID-19 and traffic chaos."
He further stated, "The People Power Party must decide whether to join the people who are giving up their daily lives and fighting COVID-19 or to side with the COVID-19 spreading forces that threaten community safety."
There were also opinions that the People Power Party should take responsibility if COVID-19 resurges due to the forced rally.
Choi In-ho, chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party, said in a verbal comment, "Following former lawmakers Kim Jin-tae and Min Kyung-wook of the People Power Party, even the leadership is making statements that effectively support the Gaecheonjeol rally, as if competing to obstruct quarantine," adding, "If public concerns about a COVID-19 resurgence due to the forced rally materialize, the People Power Party must bear full responsibility."
Earlier, some opposition figures proposed holding the 'Gaecheonjeol rally' scheduled for October 3 in Gwanghwamun in a drive-through format.
Former Future United Party (predecessor of the People Power Party) lawmaker Kim Jin-tae wrote on his Facebook on the 22nd, "This Gwanghwamun rally (Gaecheonjeol rally) would be better as a drive-through," adding, "Since the government is trying to blame the patriotic forces in Gwanghwamun for the failure of quarantine, there is no need to insist on the previous method and become prey again." He continued, "If this is also banned, it would be a comedy. I am alone in my car, so it has nothing to do with COVID-19."
Former United Party lawmaker Min Kyung-wook also expressed the same view as Kim. In a post on his Facebook, he questioned, "What is the basis for saying that more than nine cars cannot participate in a car protest?" and sarcastically added, "No dictatorship in the world blocks drive-throughs. They don't even ban parking more than nine cars in parking lots."
Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, said regarding holding the rally in a drive-through format, "The law permits it, and we need to judge whether it interferes with traffic and quarantine," but added, "If it does not interfere with traffic and quarantine, it is their right."
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