Rainy March 1st Movement Day... Conservative Groups Hold Rallies and Vehicle Protests Across Downtown Seoul

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] On March 1st, the 3.1 Movement Day, conservative groups are holding rallies and vehicle protests across Seoul.

About 10 members of the Liberty Korea Patriotic Corps and others held a rally around 11 a.m. in front of Gwanghwamun. They initially reported a rally with 50 participants but were banned by the Seoul city government. However, the Seoul Administrative Court permitted a rally limited to 20 or fewer participants, allowing the gathering to take place.

The rally reported by Mr. Hwang in front of the Ilmin Museum of Art in Jongno-gu was allowed by the court under the condition that the number of participants be limited to 30 or fewer, but it was reportedly canceled. Earlier, the court mostly dismissed injunction requests filed by some conservative groups against the quarantine authorities' ban on rallies on March 1st, but allowed some rallies with up to 20 to 30 participants.

The Our Republican Party held a press conference at Tapgol Park at noon and simultaneously held rallies with fewer than 9 participants at about 150 locations including subway stations and traditional markets throughout Seoul from 1 p.m. The Liberty Democratic National Movement also held a press conference in front of the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in the morning. The Taegeukgi Revolution National Headquarters is also holding a rally in Myeongdong from 1 p.m.

Small-scale vehicle protests are also taking place in various locations. The Patriotic Patrol Team started a vehicle protest in the afternoon near Seodaemun, passing through downtown and heading toward Hansung Science High School in Seodaemun-gu. The Emergency National Solidarity vehicle protest started around 12:30 p.m. near the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts and moved toward the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, and the National Coalition vehicle protest began around 1 p.m. near Euljiro and moved to Sinseol-dong in Dongdaemun-gu. The number of participants in the protests is limited to 9 people using 9 vehicles, and they must comply with 11 quarantine and traffic safety rules.

According to Seoul city and others, the number of rally reports in downtown Seoul on March 1st reaches about 1,600. The police have deployed about 7,000 officers in 118 companies across Seoul to prepare for any emergencies. Fences have been installed at Gwanghwamun Square since the previous day. Police officers are monitoring the situation at major downtown facilities and alleys near the square.

Police buses are on standby near Gwanghwamun Square, the Government Seoul Office, Gyeongbokgung Station, Seoul Museum of History, and near Jongno Fire Station. To prepare for vehicle protests, vehicle inspections are being conducted at about 30 entrances to downtown.

The police plan to flexibly respond by setting up fences according to the number of participants on site, as the number of participants is limited to 9 even outside the rally ban zones. They also plan to prevent all participants from gathering at unreported illegal rallies. Furthermore, they will forcibly disperse participants who do not comply with requests to refrain from rallies and will immediately arrest anyone who commits violence against public officials.

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