Court Restricts Truck March to 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Jeonnong's Legal Representatives Express "Deep Regret"
The court denied the nationwide Farmers' Federation (Jeonnong)'s planned tractor protest march to Seoul, prompting Jeonnong to announce that it will immediately file an appeal.
On the 24th, the Administrative Division 3 of the Seoul Administrative Court (Chief Judge Choi Su-jin) partially accepted Jeonnong's request for a suspension of enforcement against the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's assembly ban notice and issued an injunction.
The court prohibited Jeonnong's tractors from entering Seoul but allowed only 20 trucks to enter. The march using trucks was restricted to the hours between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., and the march was to end immediately upon arrival at the final point of the route.
The court explained, "If protests and marches using tractors and trucks were fully permitted, there is a concern that it would cause significant disruption to traffic and public order, thereby seriously affecting public welfare."
Earlier, Jeonnong's affiliated group, the 'Jeon Bong-jun Struggle Team,' announced plans for a tractor protest march to urge the Constitutional Court to make a prompt decision regarding President Yoon Seok-yeol. On the 22nd, they notified the police of their intention to mobilize 20 tractors and 50 one-ton trucks to march from Namtaeryeong in Seocho-gu toward Gwanghwamun on the 25th.
The police denied the assembly, citing concerns over potential clashes between pro- and anti-impeachment groups ahead of the impeachment trial verdict for President Yoon Seok-yeol. In response, Jeonnong filed a cancellation lawsuit and simultaneously requested a suspension of enforcement to halt the police's order before the main judgment.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency stated, "We will guarantee to the fullest extent the parts permitted by the court, but will respond strictly according to law and principles to the parts that were denied."
The Lawyers for a Democratic Society (Minbyun), representing Jeonnong legally, expressed via social media, "We deeply regret the unfair decision that could cause unnecessary conflict in a situation where a peaceful march is fully possible."
Minbyun added that they plan to file an immediate appeal and said, "We hope that the unfair decision will be promptly corrected by the appellate court."
According to the Administrative Litigation Act, an immediate appeal against a suspension of enforcement decision does not have the effect of suspending the execution of the decision. Therefore, even if Minbyun files an immediate appeal, the court's decision remains in effect.
On December 21 of last year, the Jeon Bong-jun Struggle Team led a protest march to Seoul with about 30 tractors and 50 trucks, calling for the arrest of President Yoon. At that time, they were blocked by police barricades near Namtaeryeong Hill and engaged in a standoff for 28 hours before marching to the vicinity of the presidential residence in Hannam-dong.
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