Police Warn "No Leniency" for Illegal Urban Gatherings During Gwangbokjeol Holiday Period

On August 15, Liberation Day, police erected barricades around Sejong-daero near Gwanghwamun in Seoul to prevent illegal gatherings. The National Revolutionary Party announced that during the three-day Liberation Day holiday, they would conduct the "Moon Jae-in Impeachment August 15 10 Million One-Person Walking Movement" in downtown areas such as Donghwa Duty Free Shop, Seoul City Hall, and Seoul Station. The police plan to block this, viewing it as an illegal assembly disguised as a one-person protest. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The police have announced their intention to adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward participants in illegal gatherings held across downtown Seoul during the Liberation Day holiday period.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency stated on the 16th that they have launched an internal investigation into the organizers and key participants of groups that held illegal assemblies, including the August 15 Liberation Day rallies, during the three-day holiday period.

Despite the police focusing on managing assemblies with preventive measures to curb the spread of COVID-19, illegal gatherings were held throughout the holiday period starting from the 14th in downtown areas including Jongno, Seoul.

Accordingly, the police have begun investigations applying charges such as violations of the Assembly and Demonstration Act and the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act against the organizers and participants.

The police have stated that if illegal activities are confirmed through analysis of evidence materials, they will strictly enforce judicial measures without leniency.

On August 15, Liberation Day, police are inspecting citizens in front of the fences installed to control urban gatherings at Seoul Station Plaza in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Meanwhile, during the holiday period, the police strengthened their vigilance by conducting inspections on vehicles and citizens passing through downtown areas to prevent participants from gathering.

Fixed fences were installed at crosswalks around the City Hall to Gwanghwamun area, and dense vehicle barricades were erected around Gwanghwamun where the Kukmin Revolution Party had announced a press conference.

Despite these police measures, the Kukmin Revolution Party began the "Moon Jae-in Impeachment August 15 10 Million One-Person Walking Movement," starting from Seoul Station at 6 a.m. on the 14th, circling the Gwanghwamun area, even engaging in scuffles with the police.

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