Minju No Chong Forces Rally in Wonju by Climbing Hill
Sarang Jeil Church Opposes Worship Ban, Plans to File "Constitutional Appeal"
Citizens Say "Not in Their Right Mind," "Truly Selfish" in Outrage
On the 23rd, when the National Health Insurance Service, the venue for the rally planned by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) in Wonju, Gangwon, blocked access, people presumed to be union members climbed a nearby hill. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Despite the daily new COVID-19 cases exceeding 1,000 continuously, marking the beginning of the 4th wave, some groups are pushing forward with large-scale rallies and in-person worship services, increasing public anxiety.
On the 3rd, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), which held a nationwide workers' rally around Jongno, Seoul, once again forced a rally on the 23rd in Wonju, Gangwon Province. On the same day, Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, announced it would file a constitutional complaint in protest against the government's ban on in-person worship services.
Citizens are voicing criticism. Despite the nationwide concern over the spread of COVID-19 infections, these collective actions are undermining the quarantine system.
The KCTU went ahead with a rally in front of the National Health Insurance Service in Wonju City as planned, demanding direct employment of the customer center union members.
According to the Gangwon Provincial Police Agency on the 23rd, police began blocking the rally site from around 9 a.m. by concentrating buses and installing metal fences. Personnel were stationed at every alley leading to the service center to control the entry of rally participants. Approximately 1,700 officers from 22 companies were deployed that day.
Due to the police's preemptive measures, there was no large-scale gathering; however, some participants climbed nearby hills to enter the rally site. Although they wore masks, instances of failing to maintain the 2-meter social distancing were observed. About 400 people, roughly half the expected number, attended the rally that day.
Previously, on the 3rd, the KCTU held a nationwide workers' rally around Jongno, where about 8,000 people gathered. Among the KCTU members who attended that rally, three were later confirmed to have contracted COVID-19.
Meanwhile, Sarang Jeil Church, which caused controversy by forcing in-person worship on the 18th, announced it would file a constitutional complaint, claiming the government's ban on in-person worship is unconstitutional.
Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church and Kim Hak-seong, former president of the Korean Constitutional Law Association, held a press conference that day, stating, "The government's ban on worship is an excessive exercise of public authority, an oppression of the church, and an unconstitutional measure that seriously infringes on constitutional fundamental rights such as religious freedom."
Pastor Jeon criticized the government's ban on in-person worship for churches with a history of violating quarantine rules, saying, "It directly contradicts the Constitutional Court's decision that discrimination based on past offenses is not allowed."
Earlier, the quarantine authorities had applied Level 4 social distancing measures in the metropolitan area, completely banning in-person worship at religious facilities. From the 20th, in-person worship was allowed for up to 19 people. However, churches with a history of violating quarantine rules remain prohibited. Sarang Jeil Church had also defied a gathering ban and forced on-site worship in April last year.
As collective actions by some groups continue, public criticism is mounting. It is pointed out that such behavior disrupts quarantine efforts during a severe situation where daily domestic COVID-19 cases are at an all-time high since the outbreak.
Netizens criticized the groups, saying, "How can rallies and in-person worship make sense in this situation?", "Shouting and singing hymns, infection is inevitable," "Citizens who diligently follow quarantine rules are not doing this because they have nothing else to do," and "Truly selfish."
A netizen who runs a cafe expressed, "I'm so worried that we might end up in a situation where in-store operations are completely banned like before that I can't sleep," and pleaded, "Please stop actions that undermine quarantine. Small business owners are really suffering."
Meanwhile, the government warned it would respond strictly to the KCTU rally held that day. At the afternoon regular briefing, Kwon Jun-wook, Deputy Director of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, said, "Only if everyone participates in social distancing can we quickly escape the quagmire of COVID-19, and that is the hope of all citizens, including small business owners and self-employed people. Any action that goes against this hope or violates the rules demanded by the entire society will be met with strict measures."
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