Seoul City, "27 Gaechunjeol Rally Reports... Most Subject to Prior Ban Measures"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] It has been confirmed that a total of 27 assembly reports were filed in Seoul on October 3, National Foundation Day. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the police have prohibited most of the reported assemblies to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19).

Kim Tae-gyun, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Administration Bureau, said at a briefing on the 6th regarding the National Foundation Day assembly movements, "Seven organizations reported 27 assemblies to the police," adding, "Most of the assemblies are within the assembly ban zones, including areas near Gwanghwamun, so the police are notifying prohibition in accordance with the Assembly and Demonstration Act."

Currently, Seoul is fully banning assemblies of 10 or more people until the 13th of this month, in accordance with Level 3 social distancing. Even if this measure is not extended, under Level 2 social distancing, all outdoor events with 100 or more people are prohibited.

Separately, since February, the city has designated various parts of downtown as assembly ban zones. These include ▲ Seoul Station Plaza, the squares and roads connecting Seoul, Cheonggye, and Gwanghwamun Plazas, and the sidewalks around Hyoja-dong Samgeori ▲ Sinmun-ro and surrounding sidewalks ▲ Jongno 1-ga road and surrounding sidewalks ▲ roads and sidewalks from Gwanghwamun Plaza to the Prime Minister's official residence.

Additionally, Jongno-gu and Jung-gu districts are also operating assembly ban zones to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Director Kim explained, "Even assemblies reported at locations outside the ban zones, such as large-scale assemblies with 60,000 participants, have been prohibited by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and the police will also notify prohibition," adding, "Since confirmed cases increased after the August 15 assembly, both Seoul and the police are responding by preemptively prohibiting assemblies in accordance with the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and the Assembly and Demonstration Act."

Meanwhile, as of midnight on the day, COVID-19 confirmed cases related to the Gwanghwamun assembly on the 15th of last month reached 120 in Seoul and 527 nationwide. Among 12,963 people targeted for diagnostic testing based on mobile carrier base station connection records analyzed by Seoul City, 9,891 have been tested so far.

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