Police Forcefully Disperse Illegal Nighttime Cultural Festival Near Supreme Court

Supreme Court Illegal Assembly Within 100m Without Notification

The police forcibly dispersed a 1-night, 2-day rally held by a non-regular workers' group near the Supreme Court.

The Seocho Police Station in Seoul forcibly dispersed the nighttime cultural event held by the "Non-Regular Workers Stop Now Joint Struggle (Joint Struggle)" in front of the East Gate of the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, around 9 p.m. on the 9th. At least three people were injured in the clashes that occurred during this process.

The Joint Struggle held the nighttime cultural event at 6:50 p.m. that day, urging a swift conclusion to the trials of companies such as Korea GM, Hyundai Steel, and Hyundai Kia Motors, which have been prosecuted on charges including illegal dispatch. Before the rally, they also shouted slogans toward the Supreme Court while holding pickets near the crosswalk by Seocho Station.

Under the current Assembly and Demonstration Act, assemblies and demonstrations held within 100 meters of a court are deemed illegal to prevent the risk of influencing specific court trials. Following three dispersal orders and warnings after 7 p.m., the police pushed the participants onto the sidewalk opposite the Supreme Court around 9 p.m.

The Seocho Police Station stated that this rally was an unreported illegal assembly held within 100 meters of the Supreme Court and declared their intention to strictly punish illegal assemblies in the future.