"No Repetition of Gwangbokjeol Incident" ... High Alert for 'Gaecheonjeol Rallies' Across Seoul Gwanghwamun and Other Areas

Court Allows Small Vehicle Rally Passing Through Homes of Cho Kuk to Chu Mi-ae
Seoul City Warns Subway Stations Near Gwanghwamun Will Be Skipped if Rally Proceeds

On the first day of the Chuseok holiday, the 30th, a sign prohibiting gatherings in the city center to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) was installed at Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The government plans to strictly respond to illegal activities, including promptly dispersing gatherings if city center rallies are held on Gaecheonjeol. / Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] On October 3rd, National Foundation Day, small-scale 'drive-thru rallies' with fewer than nine vehicles will be held in two sections: parts of Gangdong-gu and the area from Seocho-gu to Gwangjin-gu in Seoul. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the police have announced that they will take strong action against unauthorized rallies other than these.

They are also closely monitoring the situation in case some groups suddenly hold rallies, individual one-person protests occur that are not organized by any group, or crowds gather.

Court Allows Two Rallies in Gangdong and Seocho~Gwangjin ... Disbands if Quarantine Measures Are Not Followed

The Administrative Division 3 of the Seoul Administrative Court (Chief Judge Yoo Hwan-woo) partially accepted the injunction request filed by Hwang, a member of the conservative group 'Patriotic Patrol Team,' against the Seoul Metropolitan Government and Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's outdoor rally ban on the 2nd. Accordingly, the Patriotic Patrol Team will be allowed to conduct a vehicle protest (one-way operation) on the 3rd from noon to 5 p.m., starting from the Umyeonsan Tunnel, passing by the residence of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk at Bangbae Samik Apartments, and ending in front of the Hyundai Prime Apartments in Gwangjin-gu, where Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae resides.

Earlier, the Administrative Division 6 of the Seoul Administrative Court (Chief Judge Lee Seong-yong) also accepted the injunction request filed by Mr. Oh from the 'National Movement for a New Korea (SaeHanguk)' on the 30th of last month, suspending the police's outdoor rally ban. The court judged that the rally requested by Mr. Oh, which involves up to nine people each riding in their own vehicles and moving from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. for two hours, does not objectively pose a clear risk of spreading infectious diseases or causing traffic disruption.

However, the court imposed restrictions on both rallies, including ▲ submitting the names, contact information, and vehicle numbers of participants to the police and having them verified before the rally starts ▲ refraining from face-to-face meetings or contact before and after the rally ▲ allowing only one participant per vehicle ▲ prohibiting opening windows or chanting slogans during the rally.

On the afternoon of August 15th, a rally condemning corruption in the Moon Jae-in administration, abuse of power by Choo Mi-ae, and sexual harassment by Democratic Party local government heads was held in front of Donghwa Duty Free Shop in Jongno-gu, Seoul, hosted by Sarangjeil Church and the Liberty Solidarity. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Following the court's decision, SaeHanguk is expected to conduct vehicle protests in the Gangdong-gu area of Seoul, while the Patriotic Patrol Team will hold vehicle protests along the route connecting the residences of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk and Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae.

SaeHanguk is also planning one-person vehicle protests in five sections where their initially reported small-scale vehicle rallies were banned: ▲ Mapo Yusuji Parking Lot to Seocho Fire Station (10.3 km) ▲ Sadang Public Parking Lot to Express Bus Terminal Station (11.1 km) ▲ Dobongsan Station Parking Lot to Gangbuk-gu Office (6.1 km) ▲ Sinseol-dong Station to Wangsimni Station (7.8 km) ▲ Eungam Public Parking Lot to Gupabal Lotte Mall (9.5 km).

If Large-Scale Rally at Gwanghwamun Proceeds, Subway Will Pass Without Stopping and Bus Routes Will Be Diverted

However, the vehicle rally planned to pass through Yeouido and Gwanghwamun with about 200 vehicles was not held as the court rejected the injunction request earlier. Also, large-scale rallies planned by groups such as the August 15 Rally Participants National Emergency Response Committee around Sejong Center in Jongno-gu and in front of Donghwa Duty-Free Shop near Gwanghwamun Square were all banned or dismissed in administrative lawsuits.

The police have stated that, as initially announced, they will respond strongly to unauthorized rallies on National Foundation Day with measures such as license revocation. The Seoul Metropolitan Government will also take legal action against both organizers and participants of illegal rallies through on-site evidence collection and will seek damages if confirmed COVID-19 cases occur.

The city plans to have Seoul Metro operate trains through six nearby subway stations?Jonggak Station, City Hall Station, Gyeongbokgung Station, Anguk Station, and Gwanghwamun Station?without stopping, and close entrances if necessary, especially in situations where large-scale illegal rallies are expected. City buses will also be temporarily rerouted on the day depending on police traffic control measures overlapping with bus routes.

A city official said, "We will thoroughly prepare to prevent a repeat of the situation seen at the Liberation Day rally, where many COVID-19 cases occurred," and added, "Since temporary detour routes on the day may vary depending on the rally content, we ask citizens who must travel to check the TOPIS website, the 120 Dasan Call Center, and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's traffic information hotline."

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