Seoul City Bans 'Gwanghwamun Rally'... Conservative Groups Declare Determination to Proceed

Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon is deep in thought before announcing measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 at an emergency briefing held at the Seoul City Hall briefing room on the 21st. On this day, Mayor Park stated, "To block the spread of COVID-19, gatherings at Seoul Plaza, Cheonggye Plaza, and Gwanghwamun Plaza, where many citizens gather, are prohibited." He also said, "We will close the Shincheonji Church located in Seoul." / Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-gi] As Seoul city has banned rallies at Gwanghwamun, Seoul Plaza, and Cheonggye Plaza to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), conservative groups have expressed their determination to proceed, raising the possibility of clashes.

As of the 22nd, Seoul city is prohibiting the use of Seoul Plaza, Cheonggye Plaza, and Gwanghwamun Plaza, where large crowds gather, as announced by Mayor Park Won-soon in an emergency briefing the previous day. This is a measure under Article 49, Paragraph 1 of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act, restricting rallies in the city center to prevent infectious diseases. Seoul city has notified some groups that plan to proceed with rallies of the ban and has requested cooperation from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency.

However, it is known that police physical force suppression is difficult if the rally is banned under the Infectious Disease Control Act rather than the Assembly and Demonstration Act. Seoul city recommends disbanding the rallies and can identify organizers who violate this and report them to the police later. Violating Seoul city’s rally ban may result in a fine of up to 3 million won.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Despite Seoul city’s rally ban, Jeon Gwang-hoon, the representative of the Christian Council of Korea, expressed his determination to proceed yesterday. Pastor Jeon appeared on a YouTube live broadcast in the afternoon and said, “I declare to the people that we have judged there is no problem even if we proceed with the rally.”

Pastor Jeon said, “We will hold the rally from 12 noon.” He added, “Mayor Park Won-soon dismantled the tent of the Gwangya Church near the Blue House to suppress the rally, but does that mean we cannot hold the rally without a tent?” He continued, “Instead of a tent, we have started producing vehicles, and we will continue the rally by even placing them on the road.” The weekend rally led by the Moon Jae-in Resignation National Struggle Headquarters (Beomtu-bon), led by Pastor Jeon, is expected to proceed as planned.

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