Jongno-gu Administrative Enforcement on Illegal Assembly Facilities Around Sejongno Park

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jongno-gu (Mayor Kim Young-jong) conducted an administrative enforcement on the morning of the 27th at 7 a.m. against four tents and numerous piled objects illegally installed around Sejongno Park (80-1 Sejongno, Jongno-gu) by five organizations including the Korea Righting Movement Headquarters and the Public Transport Union.

The targets of this administrative enforcement were the Korea Righting National Movement Headquarters, the Public Transport Union, and the South-North Action (all at Sejongno Park), the People's Democracy Party (in front of KT Sejongno), and the Anti-Abe Anti-Japan Youth and Student Joint Action (in front of the Japanese Embassy).

The organizations have been leaving assembly materials on the sidewalks and continuing their gatherings while staying overnight, causing inconvenience to citizens' passage. Additionally, the long-term abandonment of tents, generators, and other piled objects, as well as garbage dumping, has led to hygiene issues.

Especially in the current situation where the COVID-19 crisis alert level has been raised to "serious," the ongoing gatherings are causing anxiety among residents, and the assembly of many people raises concerns about the spread of COVID-19.

Accordingly, the district office sent multiple warning notices to each organization requesting voluntary removal of the illegal facilities, but as the organizations refused and did not voluntarily dismantle them, the district decided to proceed with administrative enforcement. However, the Public Transport Union's Moon Joong-won memorial altar will be exempted from removal for the time being.

This enforcement mobilized about 100 Jongno-gu office employees, about 200 service company workers, 9 trucks, and 1 forklift. To prevent physical clashes and prepare for safety accidents, about 1,000 police officers, about 50 firefighters, 1 fire truck, 1 ambulance, and 1 emergency minibus were deployed.

After the enforcement, the district plans to deploy 3 cleaning trucks, 1 water cleaning truck, and 1 disinfection vehicle to clean and disinfect the site.

Mayor Kim Young-jong said, “Illegal facilities installed on the road are causing inconvenience to residents and nearby office workers, and concerns about gatherings are increasing due to the spread of COVID-19. We will continue to respond strictly according to the law against unauthorized occupation and other illegal facilities.”

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