Will Police Barricades Appear on Gwangbokjeol? Police Chief Kim Chang-ryong Says "Strict Response to Illegal Gatherings"

"Active Blocking from Assembly Stage... Uniform Response to All Gatherings"

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

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] The police have announced a strict response policy to the large-scale rally on Liberation Day announced by Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon, head pastor of Sarang Jeil Church and leader of the National Revolutionary Party.

On the 9th, Police Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong said in a written press briefing, "With the extension of the Level 4 social distancing in the metropolitan area, all gatherings except one-person protests are completely banned. We are cooperating with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to issue prohibition notices for Liberation Day rally applications." He added, "If illegal rallies or events are forcibly held, we will deploy police forces, barricades, and steel fences to actively prevent and block gatherings from the assembly stage." Commissioner Kim also stated, "If there is a sudden gathering, we plan to proceed with dispersal procedures and respond accordingly."

Pastor Jeon, who led a large-scale rally on Liberation Day last year that caused a mass infection outbreak, announced that from 6 a.m. on the 14th until the 16th, he will hold the ‘Moon Jae-in Impeachment 8·15 10 Million One-Person Protest Rally’ around Liberation Day. He also presented a detailed plan for participants to each hold placards, maintain a 2-meter distance, start from Seoul Station, pass through Namdaemun, City Hall, Donghwa Duty-Free Shop, and return to Seoul Station on the day of the rally.

Regarding criticism that the police response lacks consistency depending on the nature of the rally organizers, such as the National Democratic Labor Union Federation’s forced ‘7·3 National Workers’ Rally’ last month, Commissioner Kim said, "Regardless of the rally organizer, we respond with the same and consistent standards according to relevant laws and quarantine guidelines."

Commissioner Kim also addressed the spread of ‘fake news’ rampant in the presidential election season, stating, "We will thoroughly investigate election crimes that infringe on the fairness of elections, including the dissemination of fake news or false information related to candidates, in accordance with laws and principles."

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