Weekend Gwanghwamun Rally with Tens of Thousands Proceeding Amid 'Community Infection Emergency'

Despite the Spread of COVID-19 in the Community,
Conservative and Progressive Groups Plan to Continue Rallies and Marches in Gwanghwamun
Mask Wearing and Handshake Bans Enforced
Tens of Thousands Gather for Up to 9 Hours, Raising Concerns

Petition to Blue House to Ban 'Elderly Rallies'
"Beware of Weakened Immunity Due to Cold, Health Precautions Advised"

On the 2nd, participants at a conservative group rally held in front of Namdaemun in Seoul demanded the release of former President Park. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Tens of thousands gather in the heart of the city. The majority are elderly with weakened immune systems. In a 3.3㎡ (1 pyeong) space, 5 to 10 people stand closely packed. People wearing masks, those without, and those with masks hanging on their chins march together. They shout slogans at the top of their lungs, spitting saliva. This is a scene seen every week in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, even as the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spreads. Although COVID-19 has entered the stage of community transmission, community gatherings will continue.

According to the police and civic groups on the 19th, on the 22nd, the National Struggle Headquarters for the Resignation of Moon Jae-in (Struggle Headquarters) and the Gwanghwamun Candlelight Citizens' Solidarity (Citizens' Solidarity) will hold large-scale rallies in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. The two groups will start their rallies at 12 PM and 5 PM respectively. Considering that the rallies, including marches, are planned to last 4 to 5 hours, tens of thousands of citizens will be breathing together in the heart of Seoul for up to 9 hours. Although the groups are taking measures such as wearing masks and banning handshakes, they plan to proceed with the rallies.

The organizers each have their own justification for pushing ahead with the rallies. A representative of the Struggle Headquarters said, "It is an outdoor rally, and most participants wear masks," adding, "If rallies must be stopped just because many people gather in one place, then all department stores and shopping centers in downtown Seoul should be closed." The Struggle Headquarters has held rallies near Gwanghwamun every Saturday since October 3 last year. Particularly, tensions escalated when the Jongno District Office in Seoul removed the rally tents of the Struggle Headquarters occupying the road and sidewalk in Hyoja-ro in front of the Blue House on the 13th. Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, who leads the rallies, issued a "general mobilization order" for the 29th. He claimed, "On the 29th, the rally held to mark March 1st should see 20 million people gather here."

The candlelight cultural event urging prosecutorial reform will also resume on the 22nd. The Citizens' Solidarity leading the candlelight event announced on the 17th, "We judged that it can no longer be delayed," and "We will light candles again in Gwanghwamun." The candlelight event was postponed once from the originally scheduled date of the 1st to the 15th due to concerns over COVID-19 spread, and then postponed again by another week to the 22nd. The Citizens' Solidarity argued the necessity of proceeding with the rally, stating, "Reactionary corrupt forces such as political prosecutors' rampages and election interference are rallying together, demanding the release of Park Geun-hye and calling for the impeachment of Moon Jae-in. It is an extraordinary situation ahead of the general election."

In this situation, a petition requesting the ban of city center rallies has also appeared. On the 4th, a petitioner posted on the Blue House National Petition Board titled "Petition to Prohibit Weekend Seoul City Center Rallies by the Elderly," requesting, "Please prohibit rallies held on weekends in Gwanghwamun, Cheonggyecheon, and in front of City Hall to protect the health of the elderly and prevent the spread of COVID-19." The post received 1,088 endorsements. Professor Park Min-seon of Seoul National University’s Department of Family Medicine said, "Although the risk of infection is relatively reduced outdoors, caution is still necessary," adding, "Especially when the weather is cold, the immunity of the elderly can decrease, so wearing masks is essential and special attention to health is required."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.