"Self-Employed Vehicle Protest, Police Overreaction"... Opposition Lawmakers to Visit Police Agency for Complaint

In the early morning of the 15th, members of the National Self-Employed Emergency Committee held a one-person car protest with hazard lights on around Marronnier Park in Jongno-gu, Seoul, opposing the government's 'Level 4 Social Distancing Measures.' [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] In response to the police's strong crackdown on self-employed workers' 'drive-thru' protests against government quarantine measures, lawmakers from the People Power Party plan to visit the National Police Agency to lodge a protest.

Choi Seung-jae, chairman of the People Power Party's Small Business Committee, announced on the 22nd that he, along with fellow party members Kim Hyung-dong, Seo Beom-su, and Lee Young from the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee, will visit the National Police Agency in Migeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul to protest.

Choi said, "We intend to convey our protest and regret to Police Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong regarding the police's excessive response and preemptive suppression of the peaceful protests by self-employed workers that have recently become controversial."

The National Emergency Countermeasures Committee for Self-Employed Workers in Response to COVID-19, a coalition of self-employed groups by industry, held a two-day vehicle protest in Seoul on the 15th and 16th. The police, viewing the protests as likely violations of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and the Assembly and Demonstration Act, have initiated an internal investigation into the organizers.