Seoul City Takes Legal Action Against Ongoing Illegal Occupation on Hannam-ro

Illegal Occupation of Entire Road... Traffic Congestion and Safety Concerns
Essential Commute and School Travel Disrupted, Residents Suffer
Demand for Strict Police Investigation and Active Response Beyond Complaints

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has announced legal actions, including filing complaints, against illegal occupation and assemblies around Hannam-ro. This follows ongoing public inconvenience caused by some groups' unlawful road occupation, and plans are also underway to alleviate public transportation issues.

According to the Seoul city authorities on the 7th, the city will promptly implement these measures to protect citizen safety and minimize traffic inconvenience.

On the morning of the 3rd, as officials from the Corruption Investigation Office arrived at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, to execute an arrest warrant for President Yoon Seok-yeol, the roads near the residence in Hannam-dong are heavily congested. Photo by Heo Young-han

The Hannam-ro area is a major route for commuting to and from downtown and Gangnam-north regions, but the vicinity of President Yoon Seok-yeol's residence is currently congested due to pro- and anti-impeachment rallies. In particular, traffic congestion has been prolonged due to some groups exceeding their permitted protest scope with overnight demonstrations and complete road occupation. This has caused serious disruptions to citizens' daily routines such as commuting and school attendance, and has also hindered traffic flow, resulting in ongoing difficulties for transportation-vulnerable individuals using public transit and local residents.

Due to road occupation, it has become difficult to use bus stops, forcing passengers to board buses in the middle of the road. Nearby schools, including Hannam Elementary School, are experiencing difficulties with students attending school.

In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Government plans to cooperate with related agencies and, if these traffic obstruction acts continue, will file complaints against the involved groups with investigative authorities. Although Seoul city is not the agency responsible for managing assemblies and protests, it plans to explore all possible measures, from public transportation to traffic facility management, to promptly resolve citizens' traffic inconveniences.

Currently, Seoul city has requested the police, who are responsible for enforcement, to actively ensure compliance with assembly times and take appropriate measures. The city is urging strict investigations and swift legal responses to illegal acts to prevent harm to ordinary citizens caused by traffic disruptions. A Seoul city official stated, "As serious difficulties in daily life such as commuting continue due to traffic flow obstruction, we repeatedly urge related agencies to take active measures so that ordinary citizens no longer suffer from traffic inconvenience."