Complete Ban on 'Wednesday Demonstrations and Counter-Protests' Around the Girl Statue in Jongno, Seoul (Comprehensive)

University students affiliated with the Ban-Abe Ban-Il Youth Student Coalition staged a sit-in protest on the 24th of last month in front of the former Japanese Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, connecting their bodies to the Statue of Peace with ropes and banners. / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporters Jo In-kyung and Song Seung-yoon] The weekly Wednesday Wednesday rally held by the Justice and Memory Solidarity (Jeonguiyeondae) around the former Japanese Embassy in Korea's 'Statue of Peace' and the recently added conservative opposition rallies are completely banned to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Jongno-gu, Seoul, and Jongno Police Station announced that from 0:00 on the 3rd until the infectious disease crisis alert level 'Severe' is lifted, gatherings such as rallies and demonstrations around the Japanese Embassy area in Jung-hak-dong, Jongno-gu will be prohibited.

The prohibited rally areas include the road and surrounding sidewalks of Yulgok-ro 2-gil, part of Yulgok-ro (from the intersection with Yulgok-ro 2-gil to Gyeongbokgung Intersection), Jongno 1-gil (from Gyeongbokgung Intersection to Jongno Fire Station) road and surrounding sidewalks, Jongno 5-gil (K-Twin Tower to Jongno-gu Office) road and surrounding sidewalks, and Sambong-ro (from the U.S. Embassy in Korea to Cheongjin Police Substation) road and surrounding sidewalks. The area designated as a rally prohibition zone also includes the Statue of Peace opposite the former Japanese Embassy.

According to Article 80, Clause 7 of the 'Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Act,' organizers and participants who violate the rally ban may be fined up to 3 million won, and compensation for damages such as treatment costs and quarantine expenses due to confirmed cases may also be claimed.

A Jongno-gu Office official stated, "This decision was made because frequent rallies with large gatherings could threaten the health and safety of local residents," emphasizing that "this is not a ban on rallies by any specific organization."

Jongno-gu, together with Seoul City, has prohibited large-scale rallies in Jongno and Gwanghwamun areas to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and since the end of May, has additionally restricted rallies and demonstrations in major areas within the district such as Daehak-ro until the infectious disease crisis alert level 'Severe' is lifted.

Meanwhile, regarding the Jongno-gu Office's measures, the Liberty Solidarity, which holds rallies daily in front of the Statue of Peace calling for the "dissolution of Justice and Memory Solidarity and the resignation of Yoon Mi-hyang," stated, "We plan to comply with Jongno-gu's measures" and "We will withdraw immediately upon receiving the rally restriction notice."

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