Gatherings and Demonstrations Near Gwanghwamun Square Alongside Liberation Day...

On the 14th, Jeonguiyeon holds the '10th Comfort Women Memorial Day Butterfly Culture Festival' at Gwangtonggyo
On the 15th, conservative groups hold rallies and protests demanding opposition to the enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act

On the 6th, when Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul opened, citizens cooled off in the fountain within the square. Photo by Mun Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Ahead of the 77th anniversary of Liberation Day, gatherings and protests are converging near the newly reopened Gwanghwamun Square. However, since the Seoul Metropolitan Government is strictly restricting assemblies and demonstrations at Gwanghwamun Square, it is expected to be difficult for events to take place directly in the square.

On the 14th at around 5 p.m., the Justice and Memory Foundation (Jeonguiyeon) plans to hold the "10th Comfort Women Memorial Day Butterfly Cultural Festival" near Cheonggyecheon Gwangtonggyo Bridge, about a 10-minute walk from Gwanghwamun Square. Comfort Women Memorial Day was first designated in 2012 at the "11th Asian Solidarity Conference for the Resolution of the Japanese Military Comfort Women Issue" as a day to restore the honor of victims of the Japanese military comfort women system. From 2 p.m. on the same day, various events will be held at 20 citizen participation booths.

Ahead of this event, Jeonguiyeon raised their voices in protest against Japan. On the 10th, Jeonguiyeon held the 1556th Wednesday Demonstration, amplifying their protest against Japan. They also marched from Cheonggyecheon Square to near the Japanese Embassy. They demanded that Japan acknowledge its illegal colonial occupation of Korea and war crimes, issue an official apology to the victims of the Japanese military comfort women, and provide legal compensation. The incident on the 4th, where Grandmother Lee Yong-soo fell due to excessive security by the National Assembly while trying to meet U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is also expected to influence the protests and demonstrations.

Conservative groups are also gathering near Gwanghwamun Square. On the 15th at around 2 p.m., conservative groups including Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon's Sarang Jeil Church plan to hold the "815 Ten Million People Rally" in front of Exit 6 of Gwanghwamun Station. They refer to Gwanghwamun Square as "Rhee Syngman Square" and advocate for the withdrawal of U.S. Forces Korea and oppose the enactment of anti-discrimination laws. Since the reopening of Gwanghwamun Square on the 6th, conservative groups have already been conducting signature campaigns against the anti-discrimination law nearby. Even inside the square, they waved flags and shouted slogans while asking passersby to sign petitions.

However, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has announced a policy to strictly restrict assemblies and demonstrations at Gwanghwamun Square. It is considered difficult for these groups to organize gatherings and protests directly in the square. In the future, to hold events at Gwanghwamun Square, organizers must undergo a review by the "Square Usage Review Advisory Committee," composed of five experts on noise, traffic, and other factors. Although assemblies and demonstrations disguised as events have been held at Gwanghwamun Square so far, Seoul City intends to prevent this as well. An increase in the square usage fee is also under consideration. According to the Ordinance on the Use and Management of Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul, the current usage fee is 10 won per 1㎡ per hour, and 13 won at night, but it is planned to be raised in line with inflation rates.

However, civic groups have expressed concerns about Seoul City's policy to restrict the use of the square. The People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy stated in a press release, "Gwanghwamun Square is a historic site where candlelight rallies with over 2 million citizens took place, rewriting our political history," and added, "Seoul City should withdraw its policy to ban assemblies and demonstrations at Gwanghwamun Square."