Court Partially Allows Gatherings Near Presidential Office, Growing Concerns Among Yongsan Residents and Merchants

Voices on Negative Impact on Daily Life and Sales
Police "Considering Future Responses to Assembly Reports"

On the afternoon of the 9th, one day before the presidential inauguration, members of the Presidential Transition Committee were making final preparations in front of the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan, Seoul, which will be used as the presidential office. President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol plans to use the temporary office on the 5th floor until the 2nd-floor office is completed. Photo by Transition Committee Press Corps

The court's decision has sparked mixed feelings among residents near the Yongsan Presidential Office and civic groups. After the court partially allowed a civic group's march in front of the Yongsan Office, civic groups are preparing to intensify their rallies and protests, while residents and merchants are voicing concerns.

On the 11th, the Seoul Administrative Court partially granted an injunction to suspend the outdoor assembly ban imposed on the civic group Rainbow Action Against Sexual Minority Discrimination, which had filed a lawsuit against the chief of the Seoul Yongsan Police Station. Previously, Rainbow Action had reported a rally scheduled for the 14th, planning to march from Yongsan Station Plaza to Itaewon Plaza, but the request was denied, prompting the administrative lawsuit. The Yongsan Police Station had rejected the request citing that part of the rally route was within 100 meters of the Yongsan Office. The court, however, regarded the presidential residence and the office as separate spaces, setting a precedent that rallies and protests cannot be prohibited on this basis. The court ordered that the march route must be passed through swiftly within 1 hour and 30 minutes, and only once, citing traffic control and security reasons.

Civic groups are signaling a shift from Gwanghwamun Plaza to holding rallies in Yongsan. Park Kyung-seok, head of the National Solidarity Against Disability Discrimination (Jeonjangyeon), who recently held a subway boarding protest near Samgakji Station close to the Yongsan Office, said, "Jeonjangyeon does not limit its voice to just the subway," adding, "If we can convey our demands, we are willing to come closer." A representative from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (Minju Chong) stated, "We have not yet decided on a specific location," but added, "The large-scale protest planned for July will take place in Yongsan."

Already, the area in front of the War Memorial opposite the Yongsan Office is filled with people holding one-person protests. Protesters who had been demonstrating in front of the Presidential Transition Committee office in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, have moved to Yongsan. One citizen shouted, "We oppose the complete removal of prosecutorial investigation rights (Geomsu Wanbak)!" and "Former President Moon Jae-in should apologize." Another citizen loudly demanded, "President Yoon Seok-yeol, open your ears and communicate."

A resident said, "We were not prepared for the sudden relocation of the office. Daily life will become more inconvenient." A business owner running a pub near Samgakji Station said, "I have only been in business for half a year, and now the presidential office is next door," adding, "Police are already deployed during commuting hours, which is inconvenient, and if rallies and protests continue, I worry that noise will negatively affect sales." A police official explained, "The court's ruling applies only to Rainbow Action," and added, "We will consider how to respond if further rally and protest reports are filed."