On Hangul Day, Solo and Vehicle Protests Across the City... Criticism of the Government at 'Gwanghwamun Vehicle Barrier' Through Press Conferences and Pickets

On the 9th, Hangul Day, police at the northern end of Hannam Bridge in Seoul are inspecting vehicles heading toward the city center to prevent urban rallies and vehicle protests. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] On the 9th, Hangul Day, large-scale gatherings were banned to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), but press conferences and one-person protests condemning the government continued in various parts of downtown Seoul. On this day, the police did not completely surround Gwanghwamun Square with barricades, considering criticisms that the complete blockade of assemblies and protests was unconstitutional.

The August 15 Gwanghwamun National Assembly Emergency Response Committee, composed of conservative groups including Sarang Jeil Church, held a series of press conferences from 11 a.m. at Independence Gate in Seodaemun-gu, focusing on topics such as opposition to abortion and criticism of quarantine authorities.

At a press conference held by the civic group K-Pro-Life in front of Independence Gate, they criticized the proposed amendments to the Criminal Act and Maternal and Child Health Act that allow abortion up to 14 weeks of pregnancy. Song Hye-jung, the executive director of K-Pro-Life, said regarding the conditional allowance of abortion for "social and economic reasons between 15 and 24 weeks of pregnancy," "It is effectively permitting murder," adding, "A baby at 24 weeks of pregnancy can be saved even if born prematurely."

The August 15 Emergency Response Committee announced that they would hold a press conference condemning "political quarantine" at Gwanghwamun Square at 2 p.m. that day. The group filed for a suspension of enforcement against the police's ban on the Hangul Day assembly, but after the court dismissed the request, they decided to hold a downtown event in the form of a press conference, which does not require prior notification.

On the 9th, Hangul Day, police at the north end of Hannam Bridge in Seoul are inspecting vehicles heading toward the city center to prevent urban rallies and car protests. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On that day, a total of 1,220 assemblies were reported in the Seoul area, and the police notified the ban on 139 of them, which involved 10 or more people or were reported in assembly-prohibited zones such as Jung-gu and Jongno-gu. Around 7 a.m., the police completed the installation of barricades around the Gwanghwamun area in Seoul. However, unlike on National Foundation Day when all roads were surrounded, barricades were installed only on both sides of Sejong-daero, and Gwanghwamun Square was not completely blocked.

In the afternoon, conservative groups also conducted a "drive-thru" vehicle protest. The "Patriotic Patrol Team," composed of conservative groups, mobilized nine black vehicles to march near the former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk's residence in Seocho-gu and near Minister Choo Mi-ae's residence in Gwangjin-gu until around 4:30 p.m.

On this day, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency deployed about 180 units and over 11,000 officers, a level similar to National Foundation Day, to manage assemblies, press conferences, and other events.

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