An Unleashed Rally... Dormant Voices 'Out'

Gatherings Emerge Across the City Following Easing of Social Distancing
Seoul City Maintains Existing Assembly Ban Zones

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Since the 'social distancing' measures that lasted for 45 days from last March were eased to 'everyday distancing,' various gatherings have revived across downtown Seoul.

According to the police on the 7th, around 2 p.m. that day in Yeouido, Seoul, the National Farmers' Federation held a 'Farmers' Rally Urging Measures for COVID-19 Agricultural Damage.' About 300 agricultural workers from across the country gathered at this rally to demand livelihood support for farms that have become even more difficult due to COVID-19. In Seocho-dong, Seoul, which has emerged as a new rally hotspot after gatherings in Gwanghwamun were banned, several small-scale rallies were held simultaneously. From 9 a.m. that day, about 30 supporters of Professor Jeong Gyeong-sim held a rally in front of the Seoul Central District Court, urging her acquittal. The 'Park Geun-hye supporters,' who had stopped rallies due to COVID-19, resumed their rally urging the release of former President Park in front of the Saedang Building in Seocho-dong. In front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, the Fair Election National Solidarity hosted a '415 Election Fraud Civil Disobedience Human Chain Performance.'

During the past two months when social distancing was in full effect, downtown rallies around Gwanghwamun in Seoul were completely banned, and small-scale rallies demanding employment of construction union members mainly at construction sites were sporadically held. However, from the day before, when the transition to everyday quarantine began, labor unions and civic groups have taken to the streets again to raise their voices. At 11 a.m. that day, in front of the Blue House fountain, the Humidifier Disinfectant Disaster National Network (Humidifier Net) and the Migrant Joint Action held a 'Press Conference Proposing Life and Safety Tasks for Civil Society on the 3rd Anniversary of the Moon Jae-in Government' and a 'Joint Press Conference of National Migrant Rights Organizations in front of the Blue House,' respectively. At the same time, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions held a press conference in front of the Blue House condemning the issue of regularization of irregular cleaning and facility management workers at the Jeonbuk Provincial Office. The Jeon Tae-il Foundation held the launch ceremony and press conference of the 'Beautiful Youth Jeon Tae-il 50th Anniversary National Event Committee' at Jeon Tae-il Bridge in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has a policy to ban downtown rallies and demonstrations with a high risk of mass infection until the COVID-19 crisis is over. Accordingly, rallies or demonstrations continue to be restricted in existing banned areas such as Seoul Station Plaza, Seoul Plaza, Cheonggye Plaza, Gwanghwamun Plaza, the road and surrounding sidewalks leading to Hyoja-dong Samgeori, as well as Sinmun-ro and its surrounding sidewalks, Jongno 1-ga road and surrounding sidewalks, the road and surrounding sidewalks from Gwanghwamun Plaza to the Prime Minister's official residence, and other nearby locations announced on the Seoul city website.

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