Law Allows Gatherings Near 'Yongsan Presidential Office'... LGBTQ+ Rally on the 14th

by Kim Daehyun

Published 11 May.2022 14:21(KST)

On the afternoon of the 9th, one day before the presidential inauguration, members of the Presidential Transition Committee were making final preparations in front of the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan, Seoul, which will be used as the presidential office. President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol plans to use the temporary office on the 5th floor until the 2nd-floor office is completed. Photo by Transition Committee Press Corps

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] The court has ruled that a march can pass near the Yongsan Presidential Office.

On the 11th, the Administrative Division 5 of the Seoul Administrative Court (Chief Judge Kim Sun-yeol) partially accepted the application for suspension of execution (suspension of effect) of the assembly ban order filed by Rainbow Action Against Sexual Minority Discrimination against the Yongsan Police Chief.

The court allowed the march within 100 meters of the Yongsan Presidential Office. However, it prohibited staying in one place continuously due to security and traffic congestion reasons.

Earlier, the group reported a rally with the intention of "holding a rally at Yongsan Station Plaza on the 14th and then marching to Itaewon Plaza" in commemoration of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (on the 17th).

Article 11 of the current Assembly and Demonstration Act prohibits outdoor assemblies within 100 meters of the presidential residence. The Yongsan Police banned the assembly and march citing that some sections were 'within 100 meters of the Presidential Office.' They judged that the presidential residence is also included in the office because the presidential office and residence were relocated and separated from Cheongwadae with the launch of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration.