Seoul City, "No Gatherings Allowed on Liberation Day... Assembly Ban Order if Not Canceled" (Update)

On the afternoon of the 25th of last month, participants in the "Candlelight Rally Against Retroactive Real Estate Regulation Policies and Nationwide Tax Resistance Movement" shouted slogans in front of the Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation in Jung-gu, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporters Jo In-kyung and Song Seung-yoon] The Seoul Metropolitan Government has decided not to allow any rallies scheduled in Seoul on August 15th, Liberation Day, to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). It also plans to issue 'rally prohibition' orders against groups that forcibly hold rallies.

Park Yu-mi, the quarantine control officer of the Seoul Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters, held a briefing on the morning of the 12th and said, "The risk of COVID-19 spreading is expected to be high," adding, "We officially requested the cancellation of rallies to the relevant groups the day before."

The city is focusing all efforts on preventing further spread, seeing the recent cluster infection at Namdaemun Market and the increase in confirmed cases related to churches as serious. Officer Park warned, "If the scheduled rallies are not canceled, Seoul will take all measures, including issuing 'rally prohibition' orders, to block the risk of COVID-19 spread caused by the rallies."

So far, a total of eight groups have reported plans to hold rallies in downtown Seoul on Liberation Day, with the estimated number of participants around 40,000 according to the organizers. The Korea Right Restoration National Movement Headquarters led by Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon and the Liberty Solidarity are scheduled to hold the '8.15 National Rally for the Founding Day' around Sajik-ro near Gyeongbokgung Palace starting at noon. Rally participants plan to march toward the Blue House after the rally.

On the same day, other conservative groups demanding the impeachment of President Moon Jae-in are also expected to hold sporadic rallies on Sajik-ro. The '6.17 Regulation Retroactive Application Victims' Group,' which has recently held candlelight rallies in Euljiro and Yeouido in protest against the government's real estate policies, is also expected to participate individually in these rallies. Besides Sajik-ro, other downtown rallies such as the Taegeukgi rally hosted by the Our Republican Party in front of the Bank of Korea in Jung-gu are also scheduled.

A city official explained, "For rallies reported within the rally prohibition zones on the 15th, rally prohibition orders were issued immediately upon notification, and for groups that reported plans to hold rallies outside the prohibited zones, cancellation requests have been made."

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