Oh Se-hoon: "No Tolerance for Illegal Party Installations"
Democratic Party: "Assembly and Demonstration Act is a Constitutional Right... It Takes Precedence"
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon has ordered the enforcement of administrative measures such as forced removal against the Democratic Party's tent office, prompting strong opposition from the Democratic Party, which claims it is a "freedom of assembly and protest."
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, and Park Chan-dae, floor leader, hold a signboard ceremony for the tent party headquarters in Gwanghwamun, Seoul on the 24th. 2025. 03. 24 Photo by Yoon Dong-joo
On the 24th, Mayor Oh stated regarding the Democratic Party's tent office, "No citizen would tolerate a public party installing illegal facilities in pedestrian areas," and instructed, "Seoul City should take the lead and cooperate with the National Police Agency and the relevant district offices to enforce administrative measures without leniency, including compensation fees and forced removal."
Earlier, the Democratic Party announced plans to set up a tent office in front of Gwanghwamun in Seoul from the previous day, urging the swift dismissal of President Yoon Suk-yeol, and to hold various meetings and decision-making processes there.
In response to Seoul City's threat, the Democratic Party raised its voice in criticism. A representative of the Democratic Party Seoul City Branch told Asia Economy in a phone interview, "The Assembly and Demonstration Act is a constitutional right, so it takes precedence over the Road Act, which the mayor claims," adding, "The police also review and approve the assembly report at the time of notification, so it was done legally."
He continued, "If there is a will to carry out a large-scale enforcement, no measures have been taken even when protests exceed the standards in front of the Constitutional Court, which is unfair."
Democratic Party spokesperson Lee Geon-tae also pointed out in a written briefing, "The installation of the tent office is a lawful act within the scope of the assembly report," and criticized, "Rather, Mayor Oh's removal order is an unconstitutional act infringing on the constitutional freedom of assembly and violates the requirements and procedures for removal under the Road Act and the Administrative Enforcement Act."
Choi Ji-hyo, deputy spokesperson of the Democratic Party Seoul City Branch, commented, "While remaining silent about the tents of far-right groups occupying the area in front of the Constitutional Court for a long time, ordering the immediate removal of the Democratic Party's tent on the day of installation clearly shows Mayor Oh's selective response."
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