Police and Court Allow 'Yongsan Rally' with "Management to Ensure No Security or Safety Issues"

On August 15, Liberation Day, police conducted vehicle inspections to control urban gatherings around Dongja Rotary on Hangang-daero, Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The police conveyed their stance that they will "manage the situation to ensure no disruption to security" regarding the court's decision to allow a rally near the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 20th, when U.S. President Joe Biden visited Korea.

A police official stated that when the Seoul Administrative Court partially accepted the suspension of execution (suspension of effect) request filed by the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, which opposed the Yongsan Police Station's ban on the rally, they "respect the court's judgment" and "plan to manage the site according to the reported rally details."

The court permitted the rally to be held from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM on the sidewalk in front of the War Memorial and one adjacent lower lane, while maintaining the police's ban on rallies outside this scope.

While partially narrowing the scope of the rally, the court judged that the Yongsan Presidential Office is not included in the 'presidential residence' subject to the 'ban on rallies within 100 meters' under the Assembly and Demonstration Act.

Despite this court decision, the police maintain an internal policy to uphold the ban notice on rallies near the Yongsan Presidential Office and intend to contest the matter until the main lawsuit is resolved.

A police official explained, "If the rally continues, severe citizen inconvenience is expected due to traffic congestion and noise in the surrounding urban area, and there are concerns about the functions and safety of the Presidential Office," adding, "The purpose and fairness of the Assembly and Demonstration Act, which protects constitutional institutions such as the National Assembly and the Supreme Court, must also be considered."

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