Beomtu Coalition Holds March 1st Rally Despite Jeon Gwang-hoon's Arrest

Seoul City has decided to temporarily ban gatherings at Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul Plaza, and Cheonggye Plaza to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Meanwhile, on the 23rd, the National Rally to Set the Republic of Korea Straight, hosted by the Moon Jae-in Resignation National Struggle Headquarters (Beomtu-bon), is being held in front of the Kyobo Building in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, president of the Korea Christian Federation, is speaking. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The "National Struggle Headquarters for the Resignation of Moon Jae-in" (Beomtubon) is reportedly determined to proceed with the "March 1st Rally" planned around Gwanghwamun despite the arrest of Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, president of the Christian Council of Korea, on the 25th. Pastor Jeon, who serves as the general representative of Beomtubon, was arrested the day before on charges of violating the Public Official Election Act.

Beomtubon plans to hold weekend rallies around Gwanghwamun on the 29th and the 1st of next month, in accordance with the wishes of the detained Pastor Jeon. A representative of the headquarters informed reporters, "We will hold the rally." This indicates their disregard for the Seoul Metropolitan Government's ban on city rallies to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the fact that they have been reported for violating the Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act. Earlier, Pastor Jeon also told the press upon entering the detention center at Jongno Police Station in Seoul, "I will hold the March 1st rally no matter what."

However, it is uncertain whether the rally will proceed as planned. Pastor Jeon, who has played a central role, is detained, and the Democratic Party, government, and Blue House have announced strict judicial measures against rallies as part of efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Additionally, former Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo, who led the rally alongside Pastor Jeon, is also under investigation as a suspect, which poses another obstacle.

Beomtubon has held rallies every weekend near Gwanghwamun since the "1st National Rally for the Resignation of Moon Jae-in" on Gaecheonjeol last year. These rallies continued until the 22nd and 23rd despite Seoul's measures to ban city rallies due to concerns over COVID-19 spread. At that time, Pastor Jeon urged participants, "Let's all come out and fight on the 29th and March 1st. We must bring down President Moon Jae-in through the March 1st rally," but his arrest the day before made further participation impossible.

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