National Foundation Day Rally Banned... Tension Rises Over Announced 'Solo Protests'

Police to Completely Block Attempts at Illegal Gatherings
Deployment of Police Buses and Metal Fences at Gwanghwamun Square Planned

On the 29th, fences to prevent illegal gatherings are being installed around Gwanghwamun Square and Sejong-ro in Jongno-gu, Seoul, as the Seoul Metropolitan Government continues to refuse permission for the October 3rd National Foundation Day rally. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The court's recognition of the effectiveness of the assembly ban notice for the 'Gaecheonjeol rally' announced by some conservative groups on the 3rd of next month has effectively blocked the rally at its source. However, tension continues as some groups have announced modified forms of rallies such as 'one-person protests.' The police plan to strictly respond, viewing these rallies as illegal as well.

According to the police on the 30th, the '8.15 Emergency Measures Committee,' which hosted the Liberation Day rally, held a press conference after the Seoul Administrative Court dismissed their request for a suspension of the assembly ban order the day before, announcing plans to hold a 'multiple one-person protest.' The committee stated, "One-person protests are within the bounds of the law," and urged, "Please come out while strictly adhering to quarantine rules and preparing thoroughly to avoid any faults."

Earlier, the Seoul Administrative Court recognized the effectiveness of the assembly ban notice issued by quarantine authorities and the police, citing concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Accordingly, rallies cannot be held in downtown Seoul and areas where assembly bans have been imposed. Given this situation, it is reported that some conservative circles are devising ways to circumvent the ban.

However, the police intend to respond strictly even to such one-person protests. A police official said, "The organizers call it a 'one-person protest,' but it appears to be an attempt at an illegal rally disguised as a one-person protest," adding, "The committee's own words express an intention to hold a rally, and even though the court has issued a ban, they are calling people to gather."

In fact, according to court precedents, the Supreme Court ruled in 2014 that one-person protests conducted by labor union members spaced 10 to 30 meters apart were considered rallies, and the organizers violated the Assembly and Demonstration Act. In other words, multiple one-person protests conducted in relatively narrow spaces with the same content are regarded as rallies. Especially since the committee has already shared a common purpose through a press conference and called to "gather," the claim that these are merely one-person protests is unlikely to be accepted.

The police plan to deploy about 300 police buses and steel fences in major downtown areas such as Gwanghwamun Square on Gaecheonjeol day to block the entry of rally participants. The police have already repeatedly blocked gatherings at their source and declared that if illegal rallies are forcibly held, they will promptly proceed with dispersal procedures and strongly respond to illegal acts such as obstruction of official duties during police actions, including arresting offenders on the spot.

Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, recently emphasized at a nationwide command video conference, "Holding illegal rallies despite the police's ban notice amid the risk of COVID-19 spread is a serious crime that threatens community safety and destroys legal order," and stated, "Acts that undermine the efforts of citizens cooperating for quarantine and the government's efforts in an instant are absolutely unacceptable as they interfere with quarantine."

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