"No Clash with Authorities Expected at Seoul Queer Festival, Unlike Daegu"

"Events with unspecified large crowds are not considered road occupancy"

The Queer Parade is scheduled to take place in downtown Seoul on the 1st of next month, but unlike in Daegu, no clashes between public authorities over road occupancy are expected.

According to related agencies in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 18th, the event organizers only reported the assembly to the police and did not separately apply for road occupancy permission. However, Jung-gu, which is responsible for road occupancy permits in the Euljiro area where the event will be held, is not expected to block the event. This is because the Queer Parade is an event where an unspecified number of people pass through, and it is difficult to conclude that it monopolizes the space as 'road occupancy.'

A large rainbow flag is being unfurled at the Seoul Queer Culture Festival held at Seoul Plaza in 2022 for the first time in three years.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Daegu City considered the fact that the Queer Parade organizers only reported the assembly and did not apply for road occupancy permission problematic, and on the 17th, defined the event as illegal and attempted to stop it through administrative enforcement.

According to the 'Seoul City Road Occupancy Permit and Occupancy Fee Collection Ordinance,' road occupancy permits apply to facilities such as street vending stands, shoe repair stands, facilities within traditional markets, and new and renewable energy installations.

A representative of the organizers stated, "Although some booths will be installed during the parade, all cooperation with related agencies has been completed," and expected no difficulties in proceeding with the event.

The city decided to respond appropriately if requests related to traffic measures such as bus detours come later from the police or the organizers.

Previously, the Queer Parade held in Seoul took place at Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall, but the venue was changed to the Euljiro area after the Seoul Open Plaza Operation Citizens Committee granted usage rights to a Christian group that applied to use Seoul Plaza on the same day.

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