Jin Joong-kwon "Agree to Allow Drive-Through Rallies... The Rights of Those People"

Lee Jae-myung "Drive-through rallies should be allowed if they do not interfere with quarantine"
7 out of 10 citizens "Ban drive-through rallies"

Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon is giving a lecture on the topic "Talking about Korean Society: The Future of Ideology, Generation, and Culture" at a seminar hosted by the Economic and Social Research Institute held at Choi In-ah Bookstore in Gangnam-gu, Seoul on the afternoon of July 2 / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Ga-yeon] Former Dongyang University professor Jin Joong-kwon expressed agreement with Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung's statement that "political expression within the scope that does not interfere with quarantine measures should be allowed (referring to the October 3rd Gwanghwamun rally)."

On the 23rd, Jin shared an article titled 'Lee Jae-myung: "Drive-thru rallies should be allowed within the scope"' on his Facebook and made this remark.

He emphasized, "We need to block the virus, not the rallies themselves," adding, "I don't know what the rallies are for, but if they insist on holding them, they cannot be stopped. It is their right."

Earlier that day, Governor Lee appeared on CBS Radio's 'Sisa Jaki with Jung Kwan-yong' and stated, "There are various ways to hold rallies, and if the method minimizes infection risk or poses no danger, there is no need to block the freedom of assembly and expression."

Lee pointed out, "For example, we have to endure traffic congestion," and criticized, "It is certain that the August 15th rally, where people gathered very closely in person on a large scale, was the main cause of the surge in infections and group infections. Holding another rally on October 3rd is truly inconsiderate to neighbors."

He continued, "If there is no concern about infecting neighbors, and it is not like cramming tightly into one car, then (drive-thru rallies are acceptable). Wasn't there something called vehicle protests in the past?" He added, "I don't know which part of the current law this violates, but that is the police's jurisdiction. From my position as a quarantine authority, I think political expression within the scope that does not interfere with quarantine should be allowed."

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung is coming out of the Suwon High Court in Yeongtong-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do on the afternoon of the 21st. Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, voices of criticism have emerged within the Democratic Party regarding the drive-thru rally proposal.

On the same day, Roh Woong-rae, a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, strongly criticized at the Supreme Council meeting, saying, "How can it be that holding a rally blocking the Gwanghwamun intersection does not interfere with traffic and quarantine?" He added, "Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman of the People Power Party, requested restraint, but that was just a show. They said they were different from the Gwanghwamun rally forces, but now they are saying 'Are we not one?'"

Kim Jong-min, also a Supreme Council member of the Democratic Party, condemned, "It is an irrational idea to collaborate with COVID-19 revival forces to paralyze the capital Seoul with COVID-19 and traffic chaos."

He urged, "The People Power Party must decide whether to join the people who give up their daily lives and fight COVID-19 or to side with the forces spreading COVID-19 that threaten the safety of the community."

According to a public opinion poll, 7 out of 10 citizens oppose the drive-thru style rally on Gaecheonjeol.

On the 24th, according to Realmeter, a public opinion research firm, a survey conducted nationwide on 500 people aged 18 and over on the previous day (23rd) commissioned by TBS showed that 70.9% of respondents answered, "It should be banned for COVID-19 quarantine reasons." Additionally, 23.6% responded, "Freedom of assembly is a right and should be guaranteed," and 5.5% answered, "Don't know."

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