Jeonnong Calls Police Ban on Assembly a 'Deceptive Protest'

Cargo Trucks Carrying Tractors Gather
Severe Chaos Around Namtaeryeong Pass
Both Pro- and Anti-Impeachment Voices Join In

As the ruling on President Yoon Seok-yeol's impeachment trial approaches, concerns about clashes between pro- and anti-impeachment groups have arisen, and when the police denied the National Peasants' Federation (Jeonnong) permission for a tractor protest march to Seoul, a 'disguised protest' occurred. At the protest site, 32 cargo trucks carrying tractors gathered, causing severe chaos. Citizens passing through the Namtaeryeong Pass area, notorious for traffic congestion even on normal days, expressed their discomfort.

The National Peasants' Federation is marching with a tractor loaded on a truck near Exit 2 of Namtaeryeong Station on Line 4 in Seocho-gu, Seoul, at 2 p.m. on the 25th during a rally calling for the impeachment of President Yoon Seok-yeol. Photo by Byeon Seon-jin

On the afternoon of the 25th, dozens of 1-ton trucks affiliated with Jeonnong were densely parked in the far lane near Exit 2 of Namtaeryeong Station on Line 4 in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Jeonnong had originally planned to mobilize 20 tractors and 50 1-ton trucks to march from Namtaeryeong toward Gwanghwamun. However, after the court prohibited tractors from entering Seoul the day before and allowed only 20 trucks to enter, they changed their protest method to loading tractors onto large trucks. The police have blocked the movement of the large trucks, stating it is not permitted, leading to ongoing standoffs.

Jeonnong shouted slogans such as "The tractor march is legitimate," "Dismiss the traitor Yoon Seok-yeol," and "Police accomplices of treason, move your vehicles immediately" on three of the four lanes at Namtaeryeong. YouTubers opposing the impeachment gathered at Namtaeryeong, vowing to physically block the tractors' entry into Seoul, and hurled abusive language such as "Red commies" and "Arrest Lee Jae-myung." The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency deployed 27 riot police units with over 1,700 personnel, and the Gyeonggi Southern Police Agency also dispatched 9 units to manage security and traffic in the area.

Jeonnong claimed the police were excessively infringing on the freedom of assembly. Choi Seok-gun, a lawyer from the Lawyers for a Democratic Society, stated, "The police are arbitrarily interpreting the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of assembly and issuing prohibition notices."

In fact, the number of assembly prohibition notices is on the rise. According to the National Police Agency, prohibition notices increased sharply by 61.7%, from 619 cases in 2023 to 1,001 cases last year. During the same period, the number of assembly reports decreased from 124,938 to 112,180, while prohibition notices increased.

The police maintain that there is no legal issue under the Assembly and Demonstration Act. A police official said, "If vehicles used for farming, such as tractors, appear in downtown Seoul, severe traffic congestion can occur," adding, "This could lead to situations where emergency patients cannot reach hospitals within the golden time."

Citizens whose livelihoods are affected voiced complaints about both the protesters and the police. Quick delivery worker Choi (35) lamented, "What on earth is going on that they are blocking traffic?" and said, "I might receive a penalty because I cannot deliver goods on time." Taxi driver Mr. A (70) told the police managing traffic control, "I accepted a call, but I don't know how far the road is blocked because it doesn't show on the navigation," and asked, "Who compensates for the loss caused by reduced time to pick up passengers?"

Professor Lee Woong-hyuk of Konkuk University's Department of Police Science said, "The court tried to maximize the freedom of protest by allowing at least the march using trucks, but loading tractors onto trucks is a trick protest," and added, "The police blocking trucks carrying tractors seems to be because they judged that Jeonnong was likely to carry out the originally planned protest."

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