Upcoming Demonstrations and Protests Near Yongsan... Challenging Situation for Yongsan Police Station

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On the 9th, one day before the inauguration of the 20th president, a commemorative banner for the launch of the new government was installed at the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, where the presidential office will be located. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] On the 14th, the Yoon Seok-yeol administration moved its office to Yongsan, and for the first time, a rally was held in front of the office. Rainbow Action Against Discrimination of Sexual Minorities marched within 100 meters of the office. This was the result of the Seoul Administrative Court partially accepting the lawsuit and injunction application filed by Rainbow Action against the Yongsan Police Chief on the 11th to cancel the outdoor assembly ban order.

Until now, the Yongsan Police had prohibited assemblies and demonstrations within 100 meters of the Yongsan office. Article 11 of the Assembly and Demonstration Act (Assembly Act) prohibits outdoor assemblies within 100 meters of the presidential residence, and the police interpreted the office as included within the residence’s scope according to the law’s intent. However, the court viewed the residence and the office as separate spaces.

Despite the court’s decision, the police announced their policy to continue suppressing assemblies and demonstrations as much as possible. They immediately filed an appeal against the court’s decision. While respecting the court’s judgment regarding Rainbow Action’s assembly and demonstration, they decided to maintain the ban policy on other assemblies while proceeding with the main lawsuit.

White House Presented as Office Model... But Assembly Ban Continues

Civil society groups immediately opposed the police’s policy. They argued that the Yoon Seok-yeol administration is not keeping the promises made when relocating the office. When the Presidential Transition Committee was operating, President Yoon’s side presented the White House as the new office model. The intention was to listen to the voices of citizens gathered in a wide plaza, overcoming low walls.

However, as assemblies and demonstrations in front of the office continued to be difficult, on the 13th, the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy stated, "The police cite Article 11 of the Assembly Act as the basis for the assembly ban order, but this is based on an arbitrary interpretation that the office is included in the residence." They added, "The Seoul Administrative Court clearly stated in the injunction case against the Yongsan Police’s ban order on Rainbow Action’s march that the office is not included in the residence."

Other groups are also announcing assemblies and demonstrations in Yongsan. At the '2022 International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia Commemoration Rally' held by Rainbow Action on the 14th, Horim, an activist from the Sexual Minority Human Rights Solidarity, said, "The Yoon administration says the Yongsan era has begun, but we will also fight, sing, and dance in Yongsan." Civil society groups such as the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and the National Solidarity for the Elimination of Disability Discrimination (NSED) have hinted at the possibility of assemblies in Yongsan. A KCTU official predicted, "The large-scale assemblies and demonstrations scheduled for July will be held in Yongsan."

However, the police cannot ignore the negative reactions of citizens. Yongsan residents hope that assemblies and demonstrations will be conducted without disturbing daily life. Self-employed person A said, "I am worried that the area might become one where people don’t come because of noise from assemblies and demonstrations," adding, "Yongsan’s environment is different from Gwanghwamun Plaza, which is a tourist area with places like Gyeongbokgung Palace." Some citizens also felt uncomfortable with the police deployment itself. Resident B said, "I always took the route where President Yoon goes to work, but I don’t know how much it will be blocked, so I leave 20 minutes earlier than usual," and added, "Seeing the police deployed in every nearby alley makes me feel uneasy for no reason."