Increase Assembly Participants from 100 to 500
Comprehensive Review Needed on Assembly Formats and Noise Standards by Academia
[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] The progressive YouTube channel Seoul Voice has announced plans to hold a counter-protest in front of President Yoon Suk-yeol's residence in Seocho-dong, Seocho-gu, Seoul. This is intended to prevent protests in front of former President Moon Jae-in's private residence in Yangsan. Nearby residents have complained that noise and other disturbances are disrupting their privacy and peace, raising questions about the effectiveness of the current Assembly and Demonstration Act.
According to the police on the 14th, Seoul Voice filed a protest report with the Seocho Police Station on the 10th to hold a rally from that day until July 7th along a 300-meter sidewalk section from 30 meters left of the main gate of the Seoul Rehabilitation Court in Seocho-gu toward Gyodae Station. The protest will include slogans such as "Condemn the protection of Yoon Suk-yeol's Yangsan protests" and "Demand the arrest of Kim Gun-hee." The number of participants was initially 100 but has been increased to 500. Additionally, they reported using two broadcast vehicles, two soft vehicles, 30 banners, 4,000 hand-held placards, 100 placards, 10 speakers, and 5 amplifiers. The protest report also stated compliance with noise regulations prescribed by presidential decree and plans to secure passageways due to the limited space.
Baek Eun-jong, CEO of Seoul Voice, said, "We plan to continue the protest until the rallies in front of the Yangsan residence are stopped," adding, "We will urge President Yoon to apologize for his remarks related to the investigation of Kim Gun-hee's alleged stock manipulation of Deutsche Motors and the protests at the Yangsan residence."
The political division escalating into protests is also causing inconvenience to citizens. Kim Jin-hee (35, pseudonym), a resident of Seocho-gu, said, "Why should innocent residents suffer?" and added, "Residents need to come up with their own countermeasures."
The police stated that considering the protest location is a residential area, they will respond strictly if public order is disturbed. Article 11 of the current Assembly and Demonstration Act prohibits assemblies and demonstrations within a 100-meter radius from boundary points of the presidential residence, the Speaker of the National Assembly's official residence, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court's official residence, and the Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court's official residence.
A police official said, "Holding an outdoor assembly 100 meters away from boundary points such as the presidential residence or the Speaker's official residence is not a violation of the Assembly and Demonstration Act," but added, "Since this is a space where ordinary citizens live, we will monitor whether privacy, peace, and public order are disturbed and respond according to law and principles."
In fact, around 9 a.m. that day, three to four plainclothes police officers were on duty in front of President Yoon's residence, and a police line was set up at the protest site across the street. The police are reportedly prepared to deploy additional riot police as needed depending on the situation.
Academics have advised that protests involving retaliation or hate should be restricted according to their form, and noise regulations should be revised to reflect current realities. Professor Jung Wan of Kyung Hee University Law School said, "Recently, protests reflecting personal reasons or various social issues have been held," and added, "It is necessary to comprehensively review and amend the Assembly and Demonstration Act, which was originally created to regulate political protests and demonstrations." Regarding noise, he advised that stricter standards should be established to prevent inconvenience to citizens rather than just issuing suspension orders.
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