Farmers Urging "Yoon's Arrest" Drive Tractors to Seoul

The National Peasants' Federation (Jeonnong), which is driving tractors to Seoul to demand the arrest of President Yoon Suk-yeol, is expected to enter Seoul by the morning of the 21st. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has prohibited Jeonnong's entry into Seoul, raising concerns about potential clashes.

According to the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency and others, 17 tractors and about 20 trucks belonging to Jeonnong began heading toward Seoul around 9:10 a.m. in front of Suwon City Hall.

They are traveling along National Route 1 and, as of 10:30 a.m., have passed Jidaedae Hill in Imok-dong, Jangan-gu, Suwon City.

Those who started their march from Yeongnam and Honam regions held a rally on the 19th in front of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs at the Government Complex Sejong in Sejong City, urging the adoption of the presidential impeachment motion and condemning the exercise of the veto right on the revision of the four agricultural laws. After passing through Pyeongtaek, they arrived in Suwon the day before.

They plan to enter Seoul by the morning and march to the presidential residence in Hannam-dong and the candlelight rally site in Gwanghwamun.

However, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency issued a "restriction notice" on their march application the day before, citing that the tractor march could cause severe traffic disruptions.

Jeonnong argues that this police decision is a serious infringement on fundamental rights by restricting freedom of assembly and protest, and insists on proceeding with the march as planned.

On the other hand, the Gyeonggi Southern Provincial Police Agency has not imposed any separate restrictions on the tractor march. Therefore, there is a possibility of clashes between Jeonnong and the police in the section passing through Gyeonggi Province and entering Seoul.

A police official said, "Traffic management is being conducted on the sections Jeonnong is passing through in Gyeonggi Province," adding, "They are expected to enter Seoul via the Namtaeryeong direction, but the exact entry time and route need to be monitored."