Police Warn "Illegal Gatherings Controlled on Hangul Day"…Some Conservative Groups Oppose

On the afternoon of the 3rd, police officers at the entrance of Gwacheon Umyunsan Tunnel are inspecting vehicles carrying members of the "Republic of Korea Patriotic Patrol Team" who are holding a vehicle protest.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] Some conservative groups that planned a rally on National Foundation Day have announced their intention to continue rallies on Hangeul Day on the 9th and Saturday the 10th. In response, the police and some local governments have declared they will take a strict stance, indicating that tensions are likely to persist.

The police expressed a tough position regarding the rallies scheduled for Hangeul Day, following today's rally.

If the rallies are forcibly held, they plan to conduct thorough crackdowns on vehicles and personnel, as they are doing now. They also warned that illegal rallies over the weekend will be blocked in the same manner and that violations will be severely punished.

Additionally, some local governments, including Jeollabuk-do, will conduct a full investigation of the digital tachographs (GPS) of 2,109 chartered buses during the next week's holiday period, which includes Hangeul Day, to check whether they are operating in the metropolitan area.

They plan to crack down on gathering points of chartered buses heading to the metropolitan area and impose strong measures on illegal rally participants, including fines up to 3 million won, full payment of medical expenses by the individual, and claims for quarantine costs if COVID-19 spreads in the region.

In response, the groups strongly opposed, stating, "Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech, press, assembly, and association, but these have been suppressed," and "We will protect the freedom of assembly and association at any cost. We will report rallies on the 9th and 10th of this month and file lawsuits if prohibition notices are received."

Meanwhile, on the 3rd, the conservative group 'Daehanminguk Aeguk Suncheol Team' held a vehicle rally, lining up nine vehicles in a row and marching near the homes of Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang, former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk, and Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae before dispersing. They did not open windows or shout slogans during the protest as per the permit conditions but honked their horns instead.

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