Court Rejects Conservative Group's Request to Suspend Enforcement of 'Hangul Day Rally Ban' (Comprehensive)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] A conservative group filed for a suspension of execution against the police's order banning their Hangul Day rally, but the court rejected the request.

The Administrative Division 1 of the Seoul Administrative Court (Presiding Judge Ahn Jong-hwa) on the 8th dismissed the suspension of execution requests filed by the August 15 Emergency Measures Committee (Emergency Committee) against the Acting Mayor of Seoul and the Chief of the Jongno Police Station in Seoul regarding the outdoor rally ban order.

The court explained, "Even if 1,000 participants attend the reported rally as claimed by the applicant (Emergency Committee), the participants are expected to gather from all over the country." Since 1,000 people coming from across the nation would inevitably lead to close contact, "the spread of infectious disease appears obvious."

Furthermore, the court pointed out that the Emergency Committee's quarantine plan is not specific and it is hard to believe it can be followed flawlessly, and that the plan is not appropriate for the scale of the rally. The court judged, "The public welfare aimed at preventing and controlling the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) by banning the rally outweighs the disadvantage the applicant suffers by being unable to exercise their freedom of assembly."

Previously, the Emergency Committee had reported rallies with 1,000 participants 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. However, the police prohibited all rallies based on the administrative order from the quarantine authorities banning gatherings of more than 10 people.

The Administrative Division 7 of the Seoul Administrative Court (Chief Presiding Judge Kim Guk-hyun) also dismissed the suspension of execution requests filed by the Our Republican Party and the Ten Million Innocent Release Headquarters against the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Chief regarding the Hangul Day rally ban order.

The Free Democracy Union also filed a suspension of execution request against the Chief of Namdaemun Police Station and others, which was assigned to the Administrative Division 12 (Presiding Judge Hong Soon-wook), but no hearing date has been set.

These groups had reported plans to hold Hangul Day rallies around Gwanghwamun Square or near Euljiro 1(il)-ga Station in Jung-gu, Seoul, but received prohibition notices from the police.

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