As Social Distancing Moves to Level 1, Assembly Reports Increase... Some Are Permitted

Conservative Groups Report Weekend Rally in Downtown Seoul
Experts Warn "Concerns Over Cluster Infections Amid Seasonal Change"

On the 9th, Hangul Day, police barricades were erected on the Gwanghwamun road in Seoul to block sudden gatherings and protests. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] As social distancing measures have been eased to level 1 and gatherings of fewer than 100 people are now allowed in some areas of downtown Seoul, civic groups are filing notifications for rallies one after another.

According to the police on the 16th, the conservative group Jayu Yeondae (Freedom Solidarity) has notified the police that it will hold weekend rallies with about 90 participants every Saturday and Sunday from the 17th until next month’s 14th in front of the Hyundai Shipbuilding Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul. This location allows gatherings of fewer than 100 people. The police had previously issued prohibition notices for rallies the group had notified at other locations, but have not yet issued a prohibition notice for this rally.

The National Action for a New Korea (SaeHanguk) plans to hold a vehicle rally with about 50 participants on the 17th. They plan to start at 2 p.m. from the Supreme Prosecutors’ Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, pass by the residences of former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk and Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae, and finish the vehicle rally at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP). Since the route does not pass through prohibited rally zones, the police are not expected to issue a prohibition notice. However, they will issue restriction notices asking participants to comply with traffic laws and quarantine rules, and will manage the rally by controlling traffic.

In addition, the Taegeukgi Revolution National Movement Headquarters (Gukbon) announced it will hold a rally with fewer than 100 participants near Seocho Station on the afternoon of the 17th and conduct a march in the area. The Preparatory Committee for the People's Rally plans to hold simultaneous dispersed rallies nationwide on the 14th of next month. The committee stated that in Seoul, rallies will be held in 100 downtown locations with up to 99 participants at each site. The August 15 Citizens’ Emergency Committee (Bidaeui) planned to hold rallies with 1,000 participants at Gwanghwamun Square on the 18th and 25th, but the police issued prohibition notices for these rallies. The group plans to file another injunction request at the Seoul Administrative Court on the 16th.

Experts express concern that these simultaneous rallies could again become channels for the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Professor Cheon Eun-mi of the Respiratory Medicine Department at Ewha Mokdong Hospital said, "Regardless of the purpose, gathering people itself increases the risk of infection," adding, "Especially during the transitional season when immunity is lowered, there is concern about cluster infections among the elderly."

Earlier, as social distancing was shifted to level 1, the Seoul Metropolitan Government eased the rally prohibition criteria across Seoul from gatherings of 10 or more people to gatherings of 100 or more. However, some downtown areas of Seoul, including the Gwanghwamun-Seoul Station area, Jeokseon Rotary, the fountain plaza in front of the Blue House, and parts of roads in Seodaemun-gu, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Gangnam-gu, and Dongjak-gu, remain designated as prohibited rally zones. Even gatherings with fewer than 100 participants must comply with seven quarantine rules, including ▲temperature checks ▲registration ▲mask-wearing ▲maintaining a distance of 2 meters or more, among others.

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