Labor Day rallies across downtown Seoul on May 1... Police "Strict response to quarantine rule violations"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] With Labor Day approaching on the 1st of next month, rallies are scheduled across various locations in Seoul, and the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency has announced that it will strictly respond to violations of quarantine rules.

According to the police on the 30th, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and its affiliated organizations reported plans to hold rallies and marches with 621 participants (9 participants each) at 69 locations in Yeouido and downtown areas in celebration of Labor Day.

In response, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency stated, "The reported locations are not designated as prohibited rally zones, and the number of participants reported is within quarantine guidelines, so there is no reason to ban the rallies. However, there is concern about a large gathering exceeding the reported number of participants at specific locations. Since the rally sites in the Yeouido area are adjacent to each other (30m to 90m apart), there is a possibility of violating quarantine rules. Therefore, we have issued rally restrictions including compliance with the reported number of participants per location (9 people), use of small stages appropriate to the rally size, and the possibility of prohibition if the quarantine authorities issue a ban on the rally."

On the day of the rally, the police plan to deploy maximum personnel and equipment and work jointly with Seoul city and other quarantine authorities to actively enforce quarantine rules on-site, ensuring that organizers and participants comply. In cases where a large number of people gather densely and proceed with the rally in violation of quarantine rules, strict measures such as dispersal procedures and legal actions will be taken according to relevant laws.

The police also stated, "A march is scheduled from Yeouidaero to Gongdeok Intersection in the afternoon of the 1st. Significant traffic congestion is expected around the rally locations. We ask the public to use public transportation such as the subway and, if vehicle use is unavoidable, to detour around congested sections during that time."

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