Human Rights Commission: "Prohibition of Solo Protest in Front of Presidential Office Violates Freedom of Expression"

The National Human Rights Commission has ruled that the police action restricting a solo protest in front of the Presidential Office in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, constitutes a violation of freedom of expression.

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On the 24th, the Human Rights Commission announced, "We recommended on the 17th that the head of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's security unit provide on-the-job training to a sergeant and two patrol officers from the security unit who moved the complainant attempting a solo protest in front of the Presidential Office." It added, "A solo protest is an exercise of the fundamental right to freedom of expression, and since it is not a gathering or demonstration subject to the Assembly and Demonstration Act, there is no illegality in terms of prior notification or violation of designated locations for assemblies and demonstrations."

Meanwhile, the complainant had taken a taxi to the Presidential Office on May 13 last year to conduct a solo protest but filed a complaint after being stopped by the police.

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