Installation of Barricades at Gwanghwamun on Hangul Day... Police Say "Minimizing Citizen Inconvenience, Easing Operational Level"

Consideration of Shuttle Bus Operation in Controlled Sections
Anticipated Disputes at National Police Agency Audit

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 Lee Gwan-joo] The police plan to reinstall 'barrier walls' to prevent a large-scale rally by conservative groups in downtown Seoul on Hangul Day. However, the level of enforcement is expected to be more relaxed than during Gaecheonjeol. In this regard, a sharp confrontation over the police's lockdown of the city center is anticipated at the National Assembly audit of the National Police Agency.

According to the National Police Agency on the 8th, the police held a countermeasure meeting related to the Hangul Day rally yesterday afternoon and discussed specific response plans. The police are considering measures such as thoroughly managing the rally as they did on Gaecheonjeol, while easing the level of barrier wall deployment. A National Police Agency official said, "There is no change in the police's response policy to prevent the spread of infectious diseases," adding, "We are reviewing measures such as reducing the area where barrier walls are installed in Gwanghwamun Square to minimize inconvenience to citizens within the scope that does not interfere with rally management." It is also known that the police are considering operating shuttle buses for citizens unrelated to the rally to facilitate their passage.

On the 3rd, during Gaecheonjeol, the police deployed 300 police buses to install barrier walls along the entire section from Gwanghwamun Square to Seoul City Hall, restricting passage. They also set up 90 checkpoints at entrances to downtown Seoul to completely block access. The police emphasized the legitimacy of installing barrier walls to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) and to protect on-site police officers from infection, but they also faced criticism for restricting the freedom of assembly and demonstration.

Meanwhile, at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee's audit of the National Police Agency, which began at 10 a.m. that day, the opposition party is expected to launch a fierce offensive, calling the police's measures excessive. On the other hand, National Police Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong stated that the police response was lawful. In his opening remarks, Commissioner Kim said, "We have done our best to prevent the spread of infectious diseases that are causing suffering to the entire nation," adding, "While guaranteeing the freedom of assembly and demonstration, we are responding strictly and consistently to illegal acts based on the principle of proportionality, spreading the awareness that those who break the law will be punished."

Meanwhile, ahead of the National Police Agency audit, civic groups also held press conferences. The Police Reform Network urged proper police reform, including the abolition of intelligence police and strengthening democratic control, in front of the police headquarters in Migeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, that morning. The Liberty Korea Patriotic Corps condemned the police, calling the city lockdown an "illegal abuse of public authority."

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