First Weekend with '299-Person Limit' Lifted... Large-Scale Rallies Across the City

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jin-ho Kim] On the 23rd, the first weekend after the social distancing measures were lifted, large-scale rallies continued across downtown Seoul. It appears that the lifting of the Seoul city ordinance limiting the number of rally participants to 299 had an impact.

First, the Solidarity for the Enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act (Chaje-yeon), a coalition of civic groups demanding the enactment of the Anti-Discrimination Act, held the "April Anti-Discrimination Act Victory Focused Cultural Festival" around 3 p.m. in front of the National Assembly building in Yeouido. The organizers estimated about 400 participants.

The participants urged the passage of a comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Act banning all discrimination based on gender, disability, age, nationality, sexual orientation, education level, and other grounds within this month’s extraordinary session of the National Assembly.

The "Reform and Transition Candlelight Action Solidarity" held a rally around 4 p.m. near Marronnier Park in Jongno-gu, demanding the withdrawal of the nominations of Han Dong-hoon, Minister of Justice candidate, and Jeong Ho-young, Minister of Health and Welfare candidate, as well as the arrest of Kim Geon-hee, wife of President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol. They planned to continue marching toward the Presidential Transition Committee office in Tongui-dong.

The Liberty Unification Party, led by Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church, held an anti-"Complete Prosecution Reform" rally in Yeouido. From around 1 p.m., they gathered in front of the National Assembly waving Taegeukgi and U.S. flags, shouting slogans such as "Complete Prosecution Reform, Constitutional Destruction."

In addition, the Public Transport Workers' Union National Education Public Officials Headquarters gathered at Jeontaeil Bridge and in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education at 1:30 p.m., respectively, demanding improved rights for school irregular workers and marched toward the Transition Committee office. The "Joint Action Against the Relocation of the Presidential Office to Yongsan" gathered near Hyochang Park Station at 4 p.m., marching through Namyeong Station to the War Memorial of Korea.

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