Police: "Gatherings with fewer than 100 participants allowed under social distancing level 1"

On the 9th, Hangul Day, the police are controlling the area around Gwanghwamun Square to block sudden gatherings and demonstrations in the city center. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] As nationwide social distancing measures have been eased to level 1, the police have decided to actively allow gatherings with fewer than 100 participants.

Jang Ha-yeon, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, stated at a press briefing on the 12th, "Since gatherings of up to 100 people are now permitted in the Seoul area, we plan to actively allow assemblies that meet this criterion," adding, "We will work with the Seoul city government to interpret regulations and strive to balance preventive measures under the Infectious Disease Control Act with fundamental rights." The police also plan to provide separate guidance to allow gatherings that were previously prohibited during the period of eased distancing, provided they meet the criteria.

Starting today, the Seoul city government has lifted the ban on gatherings of 10 or more people and will only prohibit assemblies of 100 or more participants. However, even gatherings with fewer than 100 people must comply with seven quarantine rules, including temperature checks, maintaining attendance logs, wearing masks, and keeping a distance of at least 2 meters.

Regarding the police setting up barricades to block downtown Seoul gatherings on the 3rd and 9th of this month, Commissioner Jang explained, "At that time, gatherings of 10 or more people were banned throughout Seoul, and the situation was socially serious enough to discourage Chuseok hometown visits," adding, "It was a special circumstance where preventing large crowds from gathering was a priority, so we had no choice but to consider that first."

Concerning the large-scale Liberation Day rally held at Gwanghwamun on August 15, the police have sent 16 out of 30 individuals caught in the act to the prosecution and are investigating 14 others. Among 35 suspects including organizers and participants of the rally, 2 have been sent to prosecution and investigations are ongoing for 33.

On the other hand, there were no illegal activities reported at the gatherings on National Foundation Day and Hangul Day. On the 9th, a man in his 30s assaulted a police officer near Gwanghwamun Station, but it was confirmed to be unrelated to the assembly. The man was released immediately as the incident was minor.

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