[On-site Sketch] Conservative Group Holds Rally Eating 'Chicken' in Front of Statue of Girl... University Students' 'Sit-in Protest' Raises Concerns of Clashes

Concerns Over Conservative-Progressive Group Clashes in Front of the Statue of a Girl
Conservative Group: "Stop Progressive Illegal Acts Disrupting Legal Assemblies"
Some Hold Meetings While Eating Chicken Next to the Statue
University Students and Citizens Tie Themselves to the Statue and Protest Sitting

Around 7 p.m. on the 23rd, members of the conservative group Jayuyondae ordered chicken and were having a meal near the Girl Statue. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] "Progressive groups, stop the illegal acts immediately," "We will not give up the spot to conservative groups!"

At 7 p.m. on the 23rd, rallies by the conservative group Free Solidarity and university students belonging to the 'Anti-Abe Anti-Japan Youth Joint Action' began simultaneously in front of the Comfort Women Statue at the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Free Solidarity started their rally near the statue with a chicken order. Using loudspeakers, members of these groups demanded that progressive group members "eat first" and "have some chicken," urging them to vacate the spot around the statue.

Free Solidarity had filed a rally notification for the statue site from the 24th through July 8th. As a result, the 'Wednesday Rally' will move its location for the first time in 28 years.

On the afternoon of the 23rd at 7 PM, university students belonging to the 'Anti-Abe Anti-Japan Youth Joint Action' are continuing their rally in front of the Girl Statue in front of the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul. They tied themselves and the Girl Statue with ropes and entered a sit-in protest, stating that they cannot give up the spot to a conservative group that filed a rally report for the Girl Statue. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

In response, about ten university students from the Youth Joint Action have been sitting around the statue within a 2-meter radius since midnight on the 23rd, tying themselves and the statue with ropes in a sit-in protest, refusing to yield the spot to the conservative groups.

They declared they would not give up the spot under any circumstances and are prepared for an indefinite sit-in, raising concerns about potential physical clashes over the rally location. The students have been holding overnight protests to protect the statue for 1,638 days since the 2015 Korea-Japan agreement.

Free Solidarity members also ate chicken next to the statue. During this, some conservative members told progressive-leaning citizens, "Eat some food while protecting the statue," and "Do it while eating."

Kim Sang-jin, Secretary General of the Liberty Solidarity, is urging progressive organization members to stop the comfort women statue protest. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

The conservative group stationed near the statue urged university students and other citizens to vacate the area, stating that their rally site was legally registered.

Kim Sang-jin, Secretary General of Free Solidarity, raised his voice saying, "This is a legal rally. Move aside," and "What are you doing tied up with ropes?" He further stated, "This is a scene of human rights violations," and demanded, "Go home immediately."

University students and citizens from the Youth Joint Action expressed strong dissatisfaction. A university student surnamed Lee, met at the rally site, said, "This situation itself is absurd," and emphasized, "It is wrong to allow a group that displays the Rising Sun Flag to hold a rally at the statue. We plan to continue the overnight rally and are considering an indefinite sit-in."

He added, "Conservative groups are slandering us, saying we are trying to make money from the statue, but in fact, the conservative groups are earning money through YouTube sponsorships," and reiterated, "We have been protecting the statue for 1,638 days."

Promotional materials of conservative group members installed right next to the Statue of a Girl. Photo by Seunggon Han hsg@asiae.co.kr

Kim (76), participating in the rally next to the statue, also said, "This is unacceptable," and stressed, "If they truly care about the victims of Japanese military sexual slavery, they would never act like this. I hope they vacate the spot immediately." He added, "I think this is extreme violence. It is an intolerable situation," expressing his anger.

Opposition from conservative-leaning citizens also continued. Park (60), who took a position in front of the statue, criticized, "The law must be followed. Is this normal? Are they just trying to create chaos?" He further raised his voice, "The statue should be removed even now. This is just a land grab, it is illegal."

He added, "I plan to keep coming out until they vacate the spot. I don't understand why they don't follow the law," reiterating his criticism.

At around 7:50 PM on the 23rd, a physical confrontation occurred between members of conservative and progressive groups in front of the Statue of Peace located in front of the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Earlier, a conservative group had reported a rally near the Statue of Peace, raising concerns about potential clashes with opposing progressive groups. Photo by Han Seung-gon hsg@asiae.co.kr

As tensions between progressive and conservative groups over the rally site in front of the statue continued, around 7:50 p.m., a physical altercation occurred between a citizen presumed to be conservative and a participant in the rally for Japanese military sexual slavery victims.

During this, members from both groups rushed in, and the clash between the two individuals escalated into a scuffle involving some members from both sides. However, police officers near the statue immediately intervened, preventing the situation from escalating further.

Meanwhile, the Justice Memory Solidarity plans to hold the Wednesday Rally at a nearby location instead of in front of the statue.

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