The First Weekend After Inauguration... The First Large-Scale March in Front of Yongsan Presidential Office

Despite Police Ban, Rallies and Marches Likely to Continue One After Another

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Eun-mo] On the 14th, the first weekend since the presidential office moved to Yongsan, rallies were held in various parts of downtown Seoul, including areas near the presidential office.

About 500 members of the Rainbow Action Against LGBTQ Discrimination held a commemorative rally at Yongsan Station Plaza around 3 p.m. to mark the upcoming 'International Day Against LGBTQ Phobia' in three days.

They shouted, "From the first day of the new government, a presidential secretary made an outrageous remark that 'homosexuality can be cured,' and the Democratic Party of Korea, now the main opposition party, is still not actively working to enact anti-discrimination laws," adding, "We want to clearly show that LGBTQ people are here to the politics that still say 'later.'"

The police set up police lines near the plaza and deployed dozens of officers to control order and prevent clashes, considering the heavy foot traffic around Yongsan Station. After the rally, Rainbow Action marched from Samgakji Station, past the presidential office, to Noksapyeong Station. This was the first large-scale march held in front of the Yongsan presidential office.

Although the police prohibited rallies within 100 meters of the presidential office, they did not block the march. Earlier, the police had issued a ban notice on rallies such as Rainbow Action’s, citing Article 11 of the Assembly and Demonstration Act, which prohibits rallies within 100 meters of the president’s residence, interpreting that the 'residence' includes the 'office.' However, the court ruled that "interpreting the office as part of the residence goes beyond the ordinary meaning of the text," allowing the march within 100 meters of the office. However, staying in one place continuously was prohibited due to security and traffic concerns.

The police immediately appealed the court’s decision, but rallies and marches near the presidential office are expected to continue. Earlier, around 1 p.m., a rally opposing the 'complete removal of prosecution investigation rights' (Geomsu Wanbak) led by Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang Jeil Church and the Liberty Unification Party was held in front of Dongwha Duty Free Shop in Jongno-gu, Seoul, with an estimated 1,300 participants. Around 10 a.m., the Seoul Regional Public Service Branch of the Public Transport Union held a rally in front of Yonsei University’s Centennial Memorial Hall to commemorate Yonsei University’s 137th anniversary, urging solutions to union busting of cleaning workers at Severance Hospital.

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