Participants of the Gwangbokjeol Rally "We Did Not Disrupt Quarantine Measures... The Government Is Slandering Us"

On the 25th, Choi In-sik, Secretary General of the National Emergency Response Committee for the 815 Rally participants, and Lee Dong-ho, a committee member, held a press conference condemning the government in front of Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul. They addressed President Moon Jae-in, saying, "Stop threatening the public under the pretext of quarantine." They also raised their voices, stating, "We hope the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency only speaks and acts to protect the health and lives of the people." / Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Participants of the large-scale Liberation Day rally held on the 15th of this month criticized the government and health authorities for condemning rally participants despite there being no evidence of organized disruption of quarantine measures.

The "August 15 Rally Participants National Emergency Response Committee" (NERC) held a press conference on the 25th in front of Sarang Jeil Church in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, stating, "Sarang Jeil Church and the August 15 rally participants did not engage in the 'malicious and organized disruption of quarantine' mentioned by the President."

President Moon Jae-in had pointed out at the Blue House senior secretaries and aides meeting the previous day, "We will not tolerate illegal acts that threaten the lives and safety of the people," adding, "Malicious and organized disruption of quarantine and the spread of fake news are antisocial crimes that harm the community."

The NERC argued, "Sarang Jeil Church voluntarily closed immediately after confirmed cases emerged and disclosed the list of church members and visitors," adding, "Despite actively cooperating with quarantine efforts, if the President conceals this and calls it 'quarantine disruption,' it is condemning Sarang Jeil Church and rally participants as a group with an evil conspiracy."

Regarding the administrative order requiring all church members and rally participants to undergo COVID-19 testing, they called it a "wrong order," stating, "(The government) has distinct quarantine guidelines and threatens only Sarang Jeil Church and rally participants who oppose the Moon Jae-in administration."

They also criticized Jung Eun-kyung, head of the Central Disease Control Headquarters, and the health authorities for declaring they would take firm action against rumors about manipulated confirmed case numbers, saying, "They have crossed from the realm of experts into the realm of politics themselves," and "They have started to threaten the people."

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