"Jaeinsanseong? Ruling Party Responds, Calling It the Minimum Means to Protect Citizens' Lives"

Kim Jong-min "Moon Administration Never Blocked People's Voices"
Hwang Hee "Jaeinsanseong Is a Fortress Protecting the People"
Jung Cheong-rae "Jaeinsanseong Became a Scene of K-Quarantine"

Kim Jong-min, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Amid opposition parties criticizing the police barricades erected to block rallies on National Foundation Day as the 'Jaein Fortress,' ruling party lawmakers have countered by asserting that the measures were taken 'to protect the lives of the people.'

Kim Jong-min, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party of Korea, stated at the party's Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 5th, "There was a rally by some conservative groups in Gwanghwamun on National Foundation Day, and I thank the police for their efforts to ensure citizen safety and quarantine," emphasizing, "The police blockade was the minimum means to protect the lives and safety of the people."

He added, "The Moon Jae-in administration has never blocked any voices of the people so far," and expressed "serious concerns about the People Power Party protecting conservative rallies while complaining about the barricades."

On the same day, Hwang Hee, a lawmaker from the same party, argued on his Facebook that the recent police barricades differ from the so-called 'Myungbak Fortress' installed by the Lee Myung-bak administration in response to the 2009 candlelight protests against mad cow disease.

Hwang said, "The Myungbak Fortress was built by the Lee Myung-bak government to protect the regime as it threatened the lives of the people by importing mad cow disease beef," emphasizing, "The Jaein Fortress was created by the Moon Jae-in government to protect the people because the conservative camp was threatening public health due to the spread of COVID-19."

He further claimed, "The Myungbak Fortress threatened the lives of the people, whereas the Jaein Fortress is a protector of the people's lives."

On the morning of October 3rd, National Foundation Day, police buses lined up around Gwanghwamun Square in Jongno-gu, Seoul, to block sudden gatherings and protests. / Photo by Yonhap News

Democratic Party lawmaker Jung Chung-rae also said on the same day, "The Myungbak Fortress drew public resentment, but the Corona Fortress (Jaein Fortress) reassured the people," highlighting the difference between the two police barricades by stating, "The Myungbak Fortress blocked roads with container boxes, but the Corona Fortress ensured traffic flow with police vehicles."

He added, "Many people were arrested and tried under the Myungbak Fortress, but under the Corona Fortress, the police and rally participants had scuffles and then went home," noting, "The Myungbak Fortress became a laughingstock over time, but the Corona Fortress became a scene of K-quarantine."

Earlier, on the 3rd, National Foundation Day, the police blocked the Gwanghwamun area with barricades to prevent rallies led by some conservative groups. The opposition parties criticized these barricades as the 'Jaein Fortress,' likening them to the Myungbak Fortress of 2009. Although part of COVID-19 quarantine measures, there are criticisms that using public authority to block the middle of the square was excessive.

On the morning of October 3rd, National Foundation Day, police buses lined up on the road in Gwanghwamun, Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, said at the party's emergency committee meeting on the 5th, "Seeing the government build a new fortress on Gwanghwamun Street for Chuseok, I cannot understand what the government fears to mobilize massive police forces and fortify the city center," criticizing, "Democracy seems to be regressing rather than progressing."

He urged, "The government and ruling party should adopt a progressive mindset for the development of democracy."

At the same meeting, Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the same party, said, "President Moon said during the election process that he would come out to Gwanghwamun and have candid conversations with citizens," questioning, "Is President Moon not going to listen to the people and correct mistakes but instead build an ironclad fortress led by the police?"

He emphasized, "On Hangul Day, President Moon should come out personally, listen to the people, and share his thoughts."

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