Police Chief: "Strict Response to Democratic Labor Union Rally Violations of Quarantine Rules"... Opposition Party Visits Police Agency to Protest

Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong Holds Nationwide Command Meeting on Assemblies
Strong Judicial Measures Planned Against Illegal Acts

People Power Party Members of the Public Administration Committee
Criticize "Divisive, Double-Standard Quarantine"

Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] On the 14th, the police held a leadership meeting regarding the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions' (KCTU) scheduled 'National Workers' Rally' and reaffirmed their stance to strictly respond to any violations of quarantine rules.

Kim Chang-ryong, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, presided over a nationwide commanders' meeting on the 13th and stated, "Considering the increasing number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, we urged the organizers to refrain from holding large-scale rallies and to strictly comply with quarantine rules even if the rally is held."

Regarding the National Workers' Rally, 24 organizations reported rallies at 61 locations in downtown Seoul on Saturday, and 12 locations were reported in regional areas by district. Additionally, conservative groups also reported rallies at 85 locations by 16 organizations.

Commissioner Kim emphasized, "If the number of participants exceeds the limit set by the quarantine authorities or if quarantine rules are violated, we will strictly respond according to law and principles, including cooperating with quarantine authorities to proceed with dispersal procedures." He added, "We will enforce the law consistently with the same standards."

Furthermore, the police stressed that they plan to take strong judicial measures by arresting individuals on-site if illegal or violent acts occur and by analyzing evidence materials to track participants.

Members of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee from the People Power Party, Lee Myung-soo, Kim Hyung-dong, and Seo Beom-su, are protesting the approval of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions rally on the 13th at the National Police Agency in Migeun-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Seo Beom-su

Meanwhile, on the same day in the afternoon, Kim Hyung-dong, Seo Beom-su, and Lee Myung-soo, members of the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee from the People Power Party, visited the National Police Agency and Seoul City in protest against allowing the KCTU rally. In a statement, they strongly condemned, saying, "The reality of ideologically biased policing and politically biased administration has been revealed."

Assemblyman Kim criticized, "Until recently, the police under the Moon Jae-in administration and Seoul City prohibited rallies by civil society groups, including conservative civic groups, citing concerns over the spread of COVID-19 and the safety and lives of the people. As a result, what the police and Seoul City tried to protect was not the lives and safety of the people but the Moon Jae-in administration's various corruptions, incompetence, and despotic arrogance."

Assemblyman Seo, who came out after the protest visit, explained, "We protested that the police are neglecting large-scale rallies by progressive groups, which seems like a divide-and-rule style law enforcement," and added, "We requested that law enforcement be applied with the same standards."

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