[Summary] "Close Hangul Day too" vs "Moon Jae-in Style Dictatorship" Ruling and Opposition Parties Clash Over Gaecheonjeol Rally

Democratic Party "Obstruction of Quarantine... We Will Protect People's Lives More Thoroughly"
People Power Party "Random Checks on Citizens Conducted All Day"
Lee Nak-yeon "Police Must Completely Block Illegal Gatherings on Hangul Day... Preemptively Eliminate Risk Factors"

On the morning of October 3rd, National Foundation Day, police buses lined up on the Gwanghwamun road in Seoul to block sudden rallies and protests. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Political clashes between the ruling and opposition parties over the Gaecheonjeol rally are intensifying. The ruling party pointed out the vehicle rally held the day before (the 3rd) as an act of obstructing COVID-19 quarantine measures. They also ordered the police to impose lockdown measures on Hangul Day (the 9th) similar to those on Gaecheonjeol. The opposition immediately criticized this as dictatorship.

Kang Seon-woo, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, said in a written statement that day, "Due to the spread of COVID-19, daily life is tightly shut down everywhere," adding, "The forced vehicle rally by some groups on Gaecheonjeol has caused anxiety and fear greater than ever before." He continued, "These days feel like walking on thin ice that could break at any moment," and said, "We will protect the lives of the people more thoroughly and more firmly, keeping in mind all possibilities including obstruction of quarantine measures and resulting group infections."

The opposition party defined the government's control of the Gaecheonjeol rally as dictatorship and fiercely criticized the Moon Jae-in administration. Bae Hyun-jin, floor spokesperson for the People Power Party, pointed out in a statement titled "The Shadow of Moon Jae-in Style Dictatorship, Gwanghwamun Random Inspections," that "On this day in 2020, the sky opened, but at Gwanghwamun, completely blocked by police buses and barricades, random inspections of citizens passing by were conducted all day long."

She added, "There were unbelievable media reports that police stopped citizens asking, 'Why are you passing here? Show your ID. Why is there a Taegeukgi on your car?'" and criticized, "Random inspections, which are unannounced checks conducted by police on persons strongly suspected of committing or about to commit a crime for arrest or prevention, were carried out at the Gwanghwamun intersection in broad daylight in 2020."

Former Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo (right) and Pastor Seo Kyung-seok, among others, are attending a joint press conference held by civic groups in front of the National Assembly on the 30th to announce their stance regarding the notification banning the Gaecheonjeol rally.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Members of the People Power Party voiced criticism in unison. Assemblyman Yoo Sang-beom shared CCTV footage of traffic closures around Gwanghwamun on his Facebook and criticized, "Jaein Fortress? Is this normal? This is a scene only seen during the dictatorship era when all rallies were blocked."

Assemblyman Park Dae-chul of the same party wrote on Facebook, "The autumn of 2020 in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, is bleak. It seems both different and similar to the 'Seoul Spring' 40 years ago when tear gas and Molotov cocktails were rampant," adding, "This is an anti-democratic scene by a regime that claims democracy. Does the coronavirus only go to Gwanghwamun? If the Jaein Fortress can block the coronavirus, shouldn't it surround every corner of the country?"

He continued, "The court permitted vehicle rallies on the condition that only one person rides and car windows remain closed due to COVID-19 risks, but the police completely blocked the area while opening car doors and conducting inspections," criticizing, "In short, it's 'ironic, why is this happening?'"

Former Future United Party (now People Power Party) Assemblyman Min Kyung-wook also wrote on his Facebook that day, "This is a topic for overseas news. Are you really doing this because you are afraid of the coronavirus?" He added, "Are you afraid of the public voices questioning Minister Chu's son's desertion, the shooting of a Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries official, and subsequent burning? Are you afraid of Na Hoon-a's warning? Do you think this will suppress the rising public indignation? Even if you twist a chicken's neck, dawn will come."

Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Mobile Unit Headquarters on the morning of the 2nd during the Chuseok holiday, offering words of encouragement to the police officers in training.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

As opposition lawmakers continued to criticize the Moon Jae-in administration's control of the Gaecheonjeol rally for COVID-19 quarantine, Lee Nak-yeon, leader of the Democratic Party, wrote on his Facebook that day, "The Gaecheonjeol rally by some conservative groups at Gwanghwamun was blocked without major clashes," and urged, "The police should completely block illegal rallies on Hangul Day (the 9th) as well."

Lee expressed gratitude, saying, "I thank the police for their efforts in almost perfectly blocking illegal rallies," and added, "Public concern over the resurgence of COVID-19 greatly contributed to blocking illegal rallies. I also thank the people."

He continued, "Although one worry has been eased, some groups have already announced rallies for Hangul Day," and said, "Regardless of the reason, illegal rallies or acts obstructing quarantine measures can never be tolerated." He urged, "The police should completely block illegal rallies on Hangul Day and preemptively eliminate risk factors."

He concluded, "Doing so will help us quickly overcome COVID-19 and revive the economy," and said, "Advancing that day is the most important task for us now."

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