Confirmed Cases Exceed 2,000, Yet 'Gwangbokjeol Rally' Continues... Could It Ignite a COVID Crisis?

Daily confirmed cases already exceed 2,000 by 9 PM on the 10th
Large-scale rally scheduled for the 14th... Could spark a cluster infection
Government "Strict response if illegal rally proceeds"

Last October, police buses lined up on the streets of Gwanghwamun, Seoul, to block rallies and protests. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] As the daily number of COVID-19 confirmed cases surpassed 2,000 for the first time, concerns are growing over the large-scale Gwangbokjeol rallies scheduled to take place from the 14th. Including the People’s Revolutionary Party led by Pastor Jeon Gwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, approximately 300 rally notifications have been filed so far for the Gwangbokjeol holiday period. Experts warn that if thousands of people gather in central Seoul during the holiday, it could trigger a greater crisis. The government and local governments have announced they will take a tough stance against all illegal rallies that violate quarantine rules.

According to the intermediate tally by the quarantine authorities, Seoul city, and other local governments from midnight to 9 p.m. on the 10th, the total number of new daily confirmed cases reached 2,021, surpassing 2,000 for the first time since the COVID-19 outbreak in Korea. Since the case count closes at midnight, the number of new confirmed cases announced at 0:00 on the 11th is expected to increase further.

According to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s data, the number of new confirmed cases over the past week from the 4th was 1,725 → 1,775 → 1,704 → 1,823 → 1,729 → 1,492 → 1,540, maintaining a range between 1,400 and 1,700. The daily confirmed cases have remained in the four-digit range for 36 consecutive days as of the 11th.

Jeon Gwang-hoon, Senior Pastor of Sarang Jeil Church / Photo by Yonhap News

As the fourth wave of COVID-19 shows no signs of subsiding, concerns are rising that the 'Gwangbokjeol rallies' scheduled from the 14th could ignite a greater crisis.

Earlier, the People’s Revolutionary Party, led by Pastor Jeon, announced plans to hold large-scale events in downtown Seoul from the 14th to the 16th, around Gwangbokjeol. On the 10th, the party held a press conference in front of Donghwa Duty-Free Shop in Jongno-gu, Seoul, stating, "We will hold a one-person walking rally with 10 million citizens from the 14th to the 16th to resist the fraudulent quarantine martial law of the Moon Jae-in administration."

According to their plan, rally participants will tour Seoul Station, City Hall Square, Deoksugung Palace, and in front of Donghwa Duty-Free Shop, and if the police set up barricades, they intend to circumvent them.

Pastor Jeon participated in a large-scale rally in Seoul last Gwangbokjeol in violation of quarantine guidelines, and recently reiterated his intention to hold rallies, saying, "If the church facility closure order is enforced, I will go to Gwanghwamun to hold worship."

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is making a statement on Seoul City's position regarding the August 15 rally at Seoul City Hall on the afternoon of the 10th. / Photo by Yonhap News

Moreover, it is reported that about 300 rally notifications have been filed for downtown rallies during the Gwangbokjeol holiday. With at least thousands of participants expected during the holiday, there is concern that this could lead to a larger cluster infection.

The government and Seoul city plan to strictly respond to illegal rallies throughout the holiday period.

Jeon Hae-cheol, 2nd Deputy Head of the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH) and Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said at a CDSCH meeting held at the Government Complex Sejong on the 10th, "Although large and small rallies have been reported in areas including Gwanghwamun and throughout Seoul city ahead of the Gwangbokjeol holiday, most have been notified of prohibition. We strongly request restraint from holding rallies, and if rallies violating quarantine rules are forcibly held, the government will respond strictly according to law and principles."

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon also stated in an online briefing that day, "If illegal rallies are forcibly held during this Gwangbokjeol holiday, organizers and participants will be reported for violating the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act," emphasizing, "While the freedom of political expression must be guaranteed, if that freedom harms others and threatens the public interest, it sometimes needs to be restricted."

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