S. Korea’s far right planning massive rallies despite assembly ban amid rise in COVID-19 cases

Posted on : 2020-09-07 18:10 KST Modified on : 2020-09-07 18:10 KST
Some conservative leaders urging people to attend with their phones shut off to avoid tracing
An online poster for a far-right rally being planned for National Foundation Day. (online community screenshot)
An online poster for a far-right rally being planned for National Foundation Day. (online community screenshot)

With South Korea implementing Level 2.5 social distancing amid a resurgence of COVID 19 cases, far-right groups have announced that they plan to bring thousands of people to downtown Seoul to mark National Foundation Day, on Oct. 3. After the police said that any such assemblies would be banned, the groups are turning to social media and YouTube channels frequented by right wingers to urge people to show up with their mobile phones turned off.

Sources with the police told the Hankyoreh on Sept. 6 that Freedom Union, 10 Million People’s Campaign for Releasing the Innocent (affiliated with the Our Republican Party), the Taegukki Revolutionary People’s Campaign Headquarters, and other groups recently informed the police that they intend to hold large assemblies in Seoul’s Jongno District and Jung District on Oct. 3. The 10 Million People’s Campaign said that 30,000 people would gather at a park on Sejong-ro Street and near a police station in the Hyoja neighborhood; Freedom Union said that 2,000 people would gather around the Kyobo Building in Gwanghwamun Square; and the Taegukki Campaign Headquarters said that 2,000 people would gather near Euljiro 1-ga Street.

The police have notified all these groups that their assemblies are prohibited. “We notified them all when they submitted their applications that the assemblies in question are banned. If they go ahead and hold the assemblies, they’ll be prosecuted for violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act,” said a source with the police.

“Since the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 increased after a rally on Aug. 15, not only Seoul but also the police are banning such assemblies in advance according to the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act and the Assembly and Demonstration Act,” an official from the city of Seoul said on Sunday.

But just as with the Gwanghwamun rally on Aug. 15, these groups could ask the courts to issue an injunction against the bans and go ahead with their rally with or without such an injunction. “There’s still a month left before the National Foundation Day rally, so we’re going to keep an eye on developments. It would be unfair for only our assemblies to be banned when the COVID-19 situation has been brought under control, so we’re looking into [requesting an injunction against the bans],” said a spokesperson for Freedom Union. Representatives for 10 Million People’s Campaign and the Taegukki Campaign Headquarters said they haven’t made a decision yet.

A poster about the National Foundation Day rallies is quickly spreading on social media and online communities. The poster in question says “Again 10.3 14:00 / gathering of the liberal right / mobile phones off.” The last phrase is aimed at helping protesters avoid the authorities’ contact tracing efforts. YouTubers on the far right are using their platforms to encourage viewers to attend the Oct. 3 rally. The comments on these videos included the following: “We ought to leave our phones at home when we go to the rally. We should only use cash.” “We’re going to turn all our phones off for the rally in Seoul.”

With these groups blatantly attempting to organize a huge rally, the ruling party has asked the disease control authorities to take stern measures. “Far-right groups and churches are gearing up for a rally on National Foundation Day, having forgotten the lessons taught by the Liberation Day rally. The police need to operate on a ‘no tolerance’ principle for behavior that undermines our fight against the disease,” Kim Tae-nyeon, floor leader of the Democratic Party, said during a meeting of senior officials from the party and the government on Sunday.

By Kang Jae-gu and Jung Hwan-bong, staff reporters

Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]

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