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The police announced on the afternoon of the 31st that they will use capsaicin sprayers if illegal activities occur during the large-scale rally organized by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) in downtown Seoul, escalating tensions.

Yoon Hee-geun, Commissioner of the National Police Agency, rejected claims that the use of capsaicin constitutes harsh suppression, stating, "I cannot agree with that," and emphasized, "We will confidently and without hesitation fulfill the police role against illegal acts committed at the expense of freedom." On the other hand, the KCTU criticized, saying, "It feels like time is moving backward," and argued, "If the police do not respond excessively, the rally will conclude peacefully."

On the afternoon of the 31st, near the Presidential Office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, a bag with the words 'Yebicapsaicin' written on it was placed at a construction union's protest rally against the government. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Capsaicin spraying involves spraying a solution containing capsaicin, a natural compound extracted from chili peppers, around the eyes of illegal actors to obstruct their vision and disperse the rally. It is a type of tear gas that causes a burning pain when it comes into contact with human skin. The police explain that capsaicin tear gas is harmless to the human body.

The use of capsaicin spraying has not been employed since the inauguration of the Moon Jae-in administration in 2017. The last time it was used was on March 10 of the same year, when it was deployed to suppress protests opposing the Constitutional Court's ruling on the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye.

However, it has been reported that the police conducted high-intensity training involving the use of capsaicin for dispersing rallies and arresting illegal actors following the one-night, two-day 'sit-in rally' by the KCTU Construction Union on the 16th and 17th.

Within the ruling People Power Party, there have been calls for the reintroduction of water cannons, which caused the death of the late farmer Baek Nam-gi during the 2015 People's General Strike. The police had not used water cannons since Baek's death and scrapped all 19 remaining units in 2021.

Commissioner Yoon Hee-geun, attending a security countermeasure meeting on the morning of the 31st, did not give a definite answer regarding the reintroduction of water cannons, stating, "I will speak on that matter gradually over time."

In response to the police's hardline stance, the KCTU expressed opposition, saying, "It feels like time is moving backward." Han Sang-jin, spokesperson for the KCTU, criticized in an interview with MBC Radio on the 31st, "The Constitutional Court's rulings on the freedom of assembly and demonstration, constitutional fundamental rights, and the excessive abuse of police suppression are all being ignored, and the issue is being framed solely as illegal violence."

The spokesperson added, "If the police do not respond excessively and do not provoke violence, the rally will conclude peacefully."

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