8·15 Emergency Committee Files Administrative Lawsuit Against Rally Ban Order... "An Act Destroying the Constitution" (Comprehensive)

Choi In-sik, Secretary General of the August 15 Citizens' Emergency Response Committee, and others are holding a press conference on the 16th at Gwanghwamun Square condemning the government's ban on outdoor Sunday worship services.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghoon Jeong, Intern Reporter Taemin Ryu] The 8.15 Citizens Emergency Response Committee (Emergency Committee), which announced plans to hold an outdoor worship service on Sunday in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, has decided to cancel the event scheduled for the 18th. Regarding the police's order banning large-scale rallies by conservative groups in the city center, they plan to file an administrative lawsuit with the Seoul Administrative Court.

On the afternoon of the 16th, the 8.15 Emergency Committee held a press conference at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, stating, "The ban on large-scale rallies in the city center under the pretext of COVID-19 prevention is an act of destroying the Constitution," and added, "The Moon Jae-in administration is abusing and misusing the emergency powers granted to protect the people from the risk of disease."

Earlier, the 8.15 Emergency Committee had reported outdoor worship gatherings for 1,000 people on the roads next to Gwanghwamun Square on the 18th and 25th, but the Jongno Police Station delivered a prohibition notice on the 14th. In response, the 8.15 Emergency Committee demanded the withdrawal of all restrictions on the rally and the cessation of limitations on worship, and decided to file an administrative lawsuit with the Seoul Administrative Court against the ban on the rally scheduled for the 25th.

Choi Insik, Secretary General of the 8.15 Emergency Committee, said on the day, "They shifted the responsibility to the 8.15 rally and churches to cover up the failure of quarantine measures." When asked by reporters whether they were considering holding rallies in groups of 99 people or fewer, he replied, "We will take a 'direct breakthrough' rather than using loopholes," adding, "The core is to guarantee the freedom of assembly."