'Police and Jeonnong Clash for Second Day' Large-Scale Rally at Namtaeryeong

Gathering of 30,000 Estimated by Rally Organizers, 4,000 by Police

A large-scale rally was held at Namtaeryeong in Seocho-gu, Seoul, where tractors from the National Peasants' Federation (Jeonnong) were confronting the police.

Tractors are stopped near Namtaryeong in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 22nd, where the Jeon Bong-jun Struggle Team of the National Peasants' Federation staged a tractor protest demanding the arrest of President Yoon Seok-yeol and continued a standoff for more than 20 hours. Photo by Yonhap News.

The 'Yoon Seok-yeol Immediate Resignation and Social Reform Emergency Action' (Resignation Action), which has been leading candlelight rallies, held a 'Citizens' Rally Urging Guarantee of Farmers' March' on the road in front of Namtaeryeong Station from 2 p.m. on the 22nd, demanding the police remove the barricades.

As of 3 p.m., unofficial police estimates put attendance at 4,000, while the rally organizers estimated 30,000 participants. The attendees waved light sticks to K-pop music and shouted slogans such as "Move the vehicles" and "Impeach Yoon Seok-yeol." Not only citizens but also several opposition politicians were spotted.

Lee Gap-seong, commander of the Jeon Bong-jun Struggle Unit of Jeonnong, stated, "President Yoon Seok-yeol has been impeached, but the remnants of the rebellion have not been arrested or punished," adding, "That is why the farmers have risen up."

About 30 tractors and 50 trucks belonging to Jeonnong's Jeon Bong-jun Struggle Unit were blocked by police near Namtaeryeong Hill in Seocho-gu while trying to enter Seoul via Gwacheon-daero around noon the previous day. They have spent the night there and have been confronting the police for two days.

The protesters, who started from various parts of the country since the 16th, are reportedly planning to march to the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, and the rally site in Gwanghwamun demanding President Yoon's resignation. However, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency issued a 'restriction notice,' citing potential traffic disruptions.

The rally organizers announced around 4 p.m. that Democratic Party lawmakers had visited the police agency and secured a promise to march to Sadang Station, but no change has been observed in the standoff. They have announced an additional rally in front of the Hannam residence after the march to Sadang Station.

The 'Resignation Action,' which organized the rally, filed an urgent relief request with the National Human Rights Commission, arguing that the police barricades are unconstitutional acts infringing on the freedom of assembly.

Meanwhile, the standoff has caused severe traffic congestion on both directions of Gwacheon-daero since the previous day.

Physical clashes also occurred overnight, including police pulling a driver who tried to lift a police bus with a tractor and tractor windows being broken, resulting in two people being detained by the police.