Deepening Conflict in Front of the Statue of a Girl... Growing Discontent Toward the Police

Anti-Japan Action "Demanding Dismissal of Kim Gwang-ho, Seoul Police Chief... Plans for Complaints and Lawsuits"
Conservative Groups Also Say "Police Neglect Duty by Not Protecting Priority Rallies"
Frustrations Grow... Experts Say "Current Assembly Act Makes Police Action Difficult"

On the 14th, 'Anti-Japan Action' held a press conference titled 'Demanding the Eradication of the Pro-Japanese Yoon Seong-ryeol Group and Thorough Resolution of the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery Issue' in front of the Statue of Peace in Jongno-gu, Seoul. They announced that they would file a complaint against Kim Kwang-ho, Commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, for neglecting the far-right group's acts of vandalism against the Statue of Peace. / Photo by Gong Byung-seon mydillon@

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] Around 12 p.m. on the 14th, 'Banil Haengdong' held a press conference titled 'Demanding the Eradication of Pro-Japanese Activities by Yoon Seong-yeol’s Group and Thorough Resolution of the Japanese Military Sexual Slavery Issue' in front of the Peace Statue of the Girl in Jongno-gu, Seoul. At the same time, four conservative groups also held a rally not more than 20 steps away from the statue. In the same space, one group was shouting for the 'eradication of pro-Japanese forces,' while another group was calling for the 'eradication of left-wing forces and denouncing the comfort women (Japanese military sexual slavery) as a fraud.'

The area near the statue was tense. This was because Banil Haengdong and the conservative group 'Shin Jayu Yeondae' clashed on the 11th. At that time, Banil Haengdong members were surrounding the statue. Around 10 p.m., about 15 members of Shin Jayu Yeondae held a surprise rally in front of the statue, which provoked a backlash from Banil Haengdong members. A physical altercation broke out, and one participant was transported to the hospital. Additionally, one Banil Haengdong member who pushed the police was arrested on the spot on charges of obstructing official duties.

Their conflict has persisted for a long time. When allegations of embezzlement of sponsorship funds by independent lawmaker Yoon Mi-hyang surfaced in May 2020, conservative groups called for the removal of the statue nearby or made insulting remarks such as "comfort women were practically prostitutes." In response, Banil Haengdong, composed of youth organizations including Hope Butterfly, Progressive Student Solidarity, Unemployed Union, and the Student Committee of the People’s Democracy Party, has been conducting a sit-in protest in front of the statue since June 23, 2020.

They expressed dissatisfaction that the police actively intervene but do not block rallies by other groups. Banil Haengdong criticized the police for tolerating conservative groups’ rallies that repeatedly make inhumane remarks and call for the removal of the statue. At the press conference, Banil Haengdong stated, "The police are not restraining far-right groups that have committed acts of terror but are instead branding Banil Haengdong members as rioters who obstruct official duties and assault the police." Banil Haengdong demanded the dismissal of Kim Kwang-ho, Chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, and announced plans to file complaints and lawsuits in the future. On the other hand, conservative groups including Shin Jayu Yeondae criticized the police for neglecting their duties by not responding to their requests for protection, claiming they are the priority group for the rally.

Civil organizations such as the Justice and Memory Foundation (Jeong-ui Gieok Yeondae) have defined the conservative groups’ rally applications as intended to disrupt the rallies and have requested assistance from the police and the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK). In January, the NHRCK recommended through emergency relief measures that the police advise conservative groups to change the location and time of their rallies so as not to interfere with the Wednesday demonstrations. However, the police have only taken passive measures such as installing police lines and measuring noise levels.

Both sides are accumulating dissatisfaction with the passive police response, but experts say it is difficult to take action easily. Professor Lee Woong-hyuk of the Department of Police Science at Konkuk University said, "The police need to prioritize the value of freedom of assembly and demonstration," adding, "Unless the Assembly and Demonstration Act (Jipsi-beop) is amended, it will be difficult for the police to intervene in rallies in front of the statue." Currently, the Assembly and Demonstration Act restricts rallies only in residential areas, but if extended to commercial districts, police intervention would become possible.

There are also criticisms that the political sphere is responsible for leaving the conflict unattended. Professor Jung Wan of Kyung Hee University Law School said, "Even if the police intervene actively, the opposing side will certainly protest vehemently, so coordination and persuasion are necessary," and added, "This is not a matter to be resolved solely by police enforcement or law but requires the political sphere to step in and mediate the opinions of both sides."

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