"Severe Resident Damage"... Democratic Party Proposes Bill to Ban Protests in Front of Former Presidents' Residences

'Former President's Residence' Included in Restricted Areas for Gatherings and Demonstrations

On the 17th, Jeong Cheong-rae, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, took the lead in proposing a partial amendment to the "Act on Assembly and Demonstration" that includes the area within 100 meters of the former president's residence as a restricted zone for assemblies and demonstrations.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] The Democratic Party of Korea has proposed a bill to ban assemblies and demonstrations within 100 meters of the former president's residence.

On the 17th, Democratic Party lawmaker Jeong Cheong-rae officially proposed a partial amendment to the "Act on Assembly and Demonstration," including the area within a 100-meter radius of the former president's residence as a restricted zone for assemblies and demonstrations.

In explaining the reasons and main contents of the bill, Rep. Jeong stated, "Recently, vehicles equipped with loudspeakers and speakers have been parked near the former president's residence, repeatedly criticizing the former president all day long, playing the National Education Charter read by former President Park Chung-hee, and broadcasting it throughout the night, causing severe distress to residents due to these unreasonable loudspeaker assemblies."

He continued, "Under current law, assemblies and demonstrations are prohibited at locations related to key national figures such as the presidential residence, the prime minister's official residence, and diplomatic missions, but the area in front of the former president's residence is excluded, making it difficult to take action even if reported to the police," adding, "Therefore, we intend to include the former president's residence in the list of prohibited places for assemblies and demonstrations to prevent harm to nearby residents."

Rep. Jeong also said, "While the freedom of assembly and demonstration must be guaranteed, that freedom should not infringe upon other citizens' basic rights such as the right to housing and the right to life," and added, "If the former president's residence is included in the restricted areas for assemblies and demonstrations, stricter noise standards than those for general residential areas can be applied through enforcement ordinances, minimizing the damage to nearby residents."

Previously, some conservative groups held assemblies near the residence of former President Moon Jae-in, who moved to Pyeongsan Village in Yangsan, Gyeongnam after his retirement, causing controversy. These groups conducted demonstrations day and night using loudspeakers and speakers to disparage former President Moon, leading to numerous complaints from nearby residents.

Former President Moon expressed discomfort regarding the assemblies near his residence, referring to the "anti-intellectualism" mentioned by President Yoon Suk-yeol in his inaugural speech. On the 15th, Moon posted on Facebook, saying, "The noise from loudspeakers and insults are breaking the peace and freedom of a quiet Sunday in a small rural village," and apologized to the residents of Pyeongsan Village.

In response, members of the ruling party also called for restraint in demonstrations. On the 16th, People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun criticized the conservative groups' assemblies, stating, "Some conservative groups are holding excessive assemblies in Pyeongsan Village, Yangsan, Gyeongnam, where former President Moon Jae-in has returned, playing the National Education Charter all night long," and added, "Political expression should be free anytime and anywhere, but it should not become a nuisance."