Police Notify Ban on Hangul Day Rally... Conservative Group "Will Go to Court"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The police have issued a prohibition notice to a group planning a rally of 2,000 people around Gwanghwamun Square on Hangul Day, October 9.

According to the '8·15 Emergency Measures Committee (Emergency Committee)' on the 7th, the police prohibited all rallies reported by the Emergency Committee the previous day, which included 1,000 people each at two locations: the sidewalk and three lanes in front of the Kyobo Building in Gwanghwamun, and the sidewalk and roadway of the northern park of Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.

Choi In-sik, Secretary General of the Emergency Committee, said, "We will file a suspension of execution application at the Seoul Administrative Court on the morning of that day."

The Emergency Committee held a press conference in front of Jongno Police Station the previous day, stating, "We reported the Hangul Day rally out of desperation, as opposing the Moon Jae-in administration's oppression can only be done through the freedom of assembly and association." The Emergency Committee anticipated the police's prohibition notice and therefore reported the rally at two locations but said the actual rally would be held at only one location.

According to the police, as of 11 a.m. on the 5th, the number of rallies reported in the Seoul area for the 9th and 10th are 1,116 and 1,089 respectively. Rallies with 10 or more participants reported are 56 on the 9th and 54 on the 10th.

Rallies with fewer than 10 participants are also prohibited if they enter rally ban zones set by local governments. In Seoul, the entire areas of Jung-gu and Nowon-gu, and parts of Jongno-gu, Seodaemun-gu, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Gangnam-gu, Gangseo-gu, and Dongjak-gu are designated as ban zones.

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