On Hangul Day, Despite Promises to End Political Strife, Ruling and Opposition Parties Still Divided... Rally Withdrawal "For Infection Prevention" vs "Unconstitutional Coercion"

On the 9th, Hangul Day, police buses lined up on the Gwanghwamun road in Seoul to block sudden gatherings and protests. Source = Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Hana Nah] On Hangul Day, the ruling and opposition parties emphasized the excellence of Hangul and King Sejong's spirit of benevolence, but showed stark differences and sharpened disagreements over the police's complete blockade of some conservative groups' urban events and assembly plans.

Kang Seon-woo, spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, said in a written briefing on the 9th, "There is no separate path for the ruling and opposition parties on the road to a happy nation. I hope that the dignity of politics can be maintained with right and beautiful words." He emphasized the spirit of benevolence on Hangul Day, saying, "We will erase political strife."

Choi In-ho, chief spokesperson for the Democratic Party of Korea, said in an oral comment that day, "The court's dismissal of the injunction application against the assembly ban was from the perspective of preventing COVID-19 infection and spread," and argued, "The forces obstructing quarantine by planning illegal assemblies must immediately withdraw the illegal assemblies as per the court ruling."

Choi also criticized the People Power Party, which demands allowing vehicle assemblies, saying, "We must never defend the forces insisting on holding assemblies." He added, "If there is political protection for the forces that forcibly hold assemblies and obstruct quarantine, the people will not stand by."

On the other hand, Bae Jun-young, spokesperson for the People Power Party, criticized the barricades surrounding Gwanghwamun, saying, "For King Sejong, who valued communication, today seems to be a completely blocked day."

Bae opposed the ruling party's bill to ban assemblies, saying, "Are they now going to tear up the petition box and break the bell of Gwanghwamun?" He called it a "dangerous anti-constitutional coercion to completely block voices against the regime under the pretext of COVID-19."

He pointed out, "The government should at least disclose measures for other places crowded during the holidays," and said, "Where there is authority, power follows. The government should not be impatient but first gain authority through communication."

Ahn Hye-jin, spokesperson for the People Party, said, "The current regime's rulers not only fail to love the people but divide the people and society whenever there is a social issue," and urged, "The government must reflect on the spirit of benevolence."

Cho Hye-min, spokesperson for the Justice Party, said, "The earnest voices of the people that politics is not reflecting public opinion are still resonating," explaining, "This is because various entrenched privilege chances such as power abuse and preferential treatment controversies are rampant."

Meanwhile, according to the police, as of noon on the 7th, 1,210 assemblies were reported in Seoul for Hangul Day, and among them, 137 cases with 10 or more participants or reported in assembly prohibited zones such as Jung-gu and Jongno-gu were notified of 'ban on holding.' The court also denied urban assemblies in Seoul on Hangul Day following the same on National Foundation Day.

With the ban on assemblies, legal large-scale assemblies have become impossible, but some conservative groups plan to proceed in the form of press conferences and other events that can be held without prior notification.

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