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A poster for the Nov. 26 demonstration in Seoul

An operation has just been launched to surround the Blue House with the largest number of people ever.

Organizers of the fifth nationwide candlelight rally (in which as many as 2 million people are expected to participate around the country) are also planning to form a “human chain” around the Blue House from 4 to 5 pm on Nov. 26 before the main rally kicks off. Demonstrators are planning to break into four groups at the Sejong Street intersection and “encircle” the Blue House by marching to the Cheonwoon Hyoja Community Service Center, the annex of the Central Government Complex in the Changseong neighborhood, the Community Credit Cooperative at Gwanghwamun and Seum Art Space on Samcheong Street. While a court on Nov. 25 partially upheld a police ban on marches near the Blue House after 8 pm, it allowed marches during the day, making it possible for protestors to march as close as the Cheongwoon Hyoja Community Service Center, just 200 meters away from the Blue House.

which is expected to draw two million people to Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul.

Things are expected to heat up even more after 6 pm, when the main rally begins, which will include various speeches and concerts around Gwanghwamun Square. The organizers had originally hoped to have protestors march on 13 routes (including the four routes currently planned) at 8 pm, but since the court partially upheld the police ban on Nov. 25, the routes of the marchers are likely to change.

In addition to the main demonstration on Saturday, there will be 15 preliminary events held by various groups. At 1 pm, a second “citizens’ council” will be held at Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall, addressing the topics of how to force Park to step down when she refuses to do so and what South Koreans should do during this time of crisis.

At 3 pm, a group organized to stop the government from controlling the authorship of Korean history textbooks will be holding a march on Daehak (University) Street for citizens who want to put a stop to the government’s textbook plans. At the same time, the Apr. 16 Coalition will be holding a march calling for a full investigation of the 2014 Sewol ferry sinking in front of the office of the Sewol Special Investigation Commission in central Seoul.

Protesters sing a song calling for President Park Geun-hye to step down

On the evening of Nov. 25, the day before the rally, a candlelight concert called “The Step Down Show” was held at Gwanghwamun Square, featuring singers Lee Seung-hwan and Kang San-ae. At the same time, the National Emergency Conference of University Students held an event on the north side of Gwanghwamun Square and then marched toward the Naeja neighborhood intersection by Gyeongbok Palace Station. On the same day, a court gave the university students permission to march as far as the Cheongwoon Hyoja Community Service Center.

In related news, the Jeon Bong-jun Battle Group, composed of farmers with the Korean Peasants League (KPL), mobilized tractors and trucks in an attempt to protest in front of the Central Government Complex in Seoul on Nov. 25 but were blocked by the police. After arriving in Seoul in 10 tractors and 500 trucks, they requested permission to march as far as the heongwoon Hyoja Community Service Center with just two tractors in the lead, but the police rejected their request.

While a court on Nov. 25 accepted the KPL’s request to allow the demonstration to go forward, it did not allow tractors or trucks to lead the demonstration. “There are concerns that this would severely disrupt traffic, and besides, your message has largely been communicated through the long journey to Seoul,” the court said. Until late on the same day, the police scuffled with farmers at the Anseong Interchange in Gyeonggi Province, preventing tractors displaying flags and banners calling for Park’s resignation from reaching Seoul.

By Heo Seung, Hyun So-eun and Choi Ye-rin, staff reporters

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