Three One-Person Protesters Urgently Arrested for Obstructing Vehicle Traffic at Taean County Office

Three Solo Protesters Urgently Arrested for Obstructing Traffic
Protesters Played Funeral Music and Parked Vehicles at Taean County Office Entrance for Over a Month

On the 10th, the Taean Police Station in Chungnam urgently arrested and is currently investigating three individuals participating in a one-person protest for obstructing vehicle traffic for over a month in front of the main gate of Taean County Office on charges including violation of the Road Traffic Act. / Provided by reader

The Taean Police Station in South Chungcheong Province urgently arrested and is investigating three solo protesters on the 10th on charges of obstructing vehicle traffic for over a month (violation of the Road Traffic Act, etc.) in front of the main gate of Taean County Office.

Among the protesters arrested by the police that day, some had been staging solo protests inside the county office premises for as long as two years, parking their cars and playing funeral music.

In response, Taean County announced a "Government Office Security Plan" on December 11 last year, and began blocking entry by installing a barrier at the main gate from December 30. These individuals are accused of obstructing traffic for over a month by parking their protest vehicles at the main gate entrance during weekday business hours.

To address this situation, Taean County deployed 7 to 10 public officials at the main gate every day to guide visitors' vehicles safely in and out of the county office.

After receiving a complaint from Taean County on December 31 last year, the police had requested the protesters to appear for questioning more than three times, but they did not comply. As a result, on the 6th of this month, the police obtained an emergency arrest warrant from the court and executed it at the protest site around 9 a.m. that day.

The protesters have argued, "This is a legitimate solo protest to inform the citizens and correct wrongful county administration," adding, "If there is any false information in our claims, we will take full responsibility."

County officials expressed their distress, saying, "Although the protesters claim they do not intend to harass public officials, it is extremely distressing to listen to the loud funeral music and broadcasts coming from the protest vehicles for years."