Blocking protests with barricades and fences... Conservative group members holding solo protests
Press conference scheduled at 3 PM in front of Donghwa Duty Free Shop, Jongno-gu
Police have set up barricades on roads near Gwanghwamun. The People’s Revolutionary Party, led by Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, announced that during the three-day Liberation Day holiday, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., they will conduct the "Moon Jae-in Impeachment August 15 10 Million One-Person Walking Campaign" in downtown areas including Donghwa Duty Free Shop, Seoul City Hall, and Seoul Station. The police plan to block this, viewing it as an illegal assembly disguised as a one-person protest. Photo by Yonhap News Agency
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] On the occasion of Liberation Day, the court largely dismissed the injunction applications filed by civic groups for rallies in downtown Seoul.
The Seoul Administrative Court recently dismissed 5 out of 6 injunction applications to lift rally bans filed by groups such as Jayuyundae, Ilpamanpa, and Jayudaehanhogukdan. One case was postponed for hearing and has not yet been decided.
Compared to last year when 2 out of 10 injunction applications related to Liberation Day rally bans were accepted, this year’s court dismissals are interpreted as supporting the authorities’ quarantine guideline of a 'complete ban on rallies.'
Last year, the cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases related to Liberation Day rallies was reported to be over 600. As a result, the daily average number of confirmed cases rose to around 300, and the Liberation Day rallies were identified as one of the causes for the resurgence of COVID-19, which had been in a lull. The court’s partial allowance of some rallies then drew public criticism.
After the injunction applications to lift rally bans were dismissed, one-person protests by conservative civic groups continued around Tapgol Park in Jongno-gu and Jongno 3-ga. They carried placards calling for the impeachment of President Moon Jae-in and waved Taegeukgi and the US flag while walking the streets.
Areas near Gwanghwamun Square and Seoul City Hall were blocked off from gatherings by fences and vehicle barriers installed by the police since the previous day. However, conservative groups such as the Kukmin Revolution Party, led by Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, announced plans to hold large-scale events and modified one-person protest rallies in downtown Seoul starting in the afternoon, so the situation may change.
The Kukmin Revolution Party announced that after finishing an in-person worship service at Sarang Jeil Church in Jangwi-dong, Seongbuk-gu, in the morning, they will hold a press conference at 3 p.m. in front of Donghwa Duty-Free Shop in Jongno-gu.
In response, the police plan to install fences mainly around the rally ban areas and coordinate with related agencies to implement measures such as non-stop passage of nearby subway stations and rerouting of bus lines.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
