Large-scale Conservative and Progressive Group Rallies in Downtown Seoul Today... Concerns Over COVID-19 Cluster Infections

On the 14th, as the situation of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) worsens mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area, a notice banning assemblies was installed at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Large-scale rallies are expected to be forcibly held in downtown Seoul on August 15, Liberation Day, prompting the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the police to be on high alert. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Min-young] Amid the growing spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) centered in the Seoul metropolitan area, large-scale rallies by conservative and progressive groups will be held in downtown Seoul on August 15, Liberation Day.

Conservative groups such as Sarang Jeil Church, led by Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon, and the Liberty Solidarity will hold a rally condemning the government and ruling party near Gyeongbokgung Station in Jongno-gu, Seoul on that day.

The expected number of participants announced by them is 2,000, but the police believe the actual scale of the rally could reach tens of thousands as they are encouraging massive participation from their followers. Regarding Sarang Jeil Church, 30 confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported cumulatively in Seoul alone as of the previous day.

Participants reported that they will hold the rally from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sajik-ro’s three lanes and sidewalks in front of Jeokseon Hyundai Building in Jongno-gu. The police are considering the possibility that they may hold an overnight rally.

The labor sector is also planning to hold a rally. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) will hold a workers' rally near Anguk Station in Jongno-gu at 3 p.m. on the same day. The expected number of participants is 2,000.

The 4·15 Fraud Election National Struggle Headquarters (Guktubon), led by former Future United Party lawmaker Min Kyung-wook, was legally allowed to hold a rally after the court accepted their request for suspension of the assembly ban order the day before.

They plan to hold a rally with 4,000 participants near Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station in Jung-gu from 1 p.m., followed by a march toward Gwanghwamun around 5 p.m.

The police stated that rallies with suspension orders accepted will be managed according to the court’s guidelines, while other rallies will be deemed illegal and all will be suppressed from the stage of gathering.

On the 14th, as the situation of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is worsening mainly in the Seoul metropolitan area, a notice banning assemblies was installed at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Large-scale rallies are expected to be forcibly held in downtown Seoul on August 15, Liberation Day, prompting the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the police to be on high alert. Photo by Mo Honam munonam@

Assembly ban zones such as Gwanghwamun Square will be fenced off in cooperation with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to block entry.

If the rallies are forcibly held, officials from the Seoul Metropolitan Government and quarantine authorities will demand dispersal on-site and issue warning broadcasts.

Participants who do not comply with these requests will be forcibly dispersed, and if they commit violence against officials, they will be immediately arrested, the police said. The Seoul Metropolitan Government also announced it will file complaints against rally participants.

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