Rally in front of the office on the day of the Korea-US summit... "No strengthening of Korea-US-Japan military cooperation"

Conservative Groups Also Hold Rally "Strengthening the Hanmi Alliance"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] While the South Korea-U.S. summit between President Yoon Seok-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden was taking place, civic groups held a rally in front of the Yongsan Presidential Office opposing the strengthening of South Korea-U.S.-Japan military cooperation.

On the 21st, the Citizen Peace Forum, which includes People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, and the National People's Action held a 'South Korea-U.S. Summit Response Action' rally and press conference in front of the War Memorial across from the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul.

Park Seok-woon, co-representative of the National People's Action, said, "The South Korea-U.S. summit is heading in a direction that strengthens South Korea-U.S.-Japan military cooperation and rather provokes the risk of war in East Asia," adding, "Peace, which is the most important value to us, is an issue that cannot be compromised." They shouted slogans toward the presidential office but there were no major clashes.

The day before, the Seoul Administrative Court’s Administrative Division 13 (Chief Judge Park Jeong-dae) partially accepted the suspension of execution (suspension of effect) application filed by People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy against the Yongsan Police Station’s ban on the rally, allowing civic groups to hold rallies in front of the presidential office. Until now, the police had based their ban on Article 11 of the Assembly and Demonstration Act, judging that the presidential office is included in the presidential residence. The police had prohibited all nine rallies reported to be held in front of the Yongsan office during President Biden’s visit.

Earlier that day around noon, the civic group 'People Opening Peace and Unification' also held a rally at the War Memorial Plaza calling for a halt to the strengthening of South Korea-U.S. cooperation. They also received a ban notice from the Yongsan Police Station but were granted conditional permission by the court.

A rally supporting the strengthening of South Korea-U.S. cooperation was also held. The Veterans Association held a rally in front of the National Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, welcoming President Biden’s visit. They waved U.S. flags along with placards reading 'Strengthen South Korea-U.S. Cooperation' and others.

In line with President Biden’s visit, 61 rallies were reported across Seoul that day. The police deployed more than 10,000 personnel from 125 units. However, no unexpected incidents were reported.