Rally Organizers Jailed, Prime Minister & Police Promise Crackdown, Suppression of Freedom of Assembly in South Korea

2020-9-28, Tara O

October 3rd is National Foundation Day in South Korea.  Similar to last year, major rallies against the Moon Jae-in government were planned for that day, but the Moon administration is taking steps to ensure rallies do not occur.  On August 15, 2020, another national holiday (Independence Day), massive rallies calling for ousting Moon Jae-in occurred, and the government tried to shut that down as well.  This is yet another suppression of freedom, this time, freedom of assembly.

On September 28, 2020, the government arrested Kim Kyung-jae (김경재), former President of the Korea Freedom Federation (한국자유총연맹), and Kim Soo-yeol (김수열), the head of IlpaManpa Patriots Alliance or IlpaManpa (일파만파) for short.  The two were arrested and jailed for alleged conspiracy to hold an “illegal” assembly on August 15, 2020, Liberation Day.  IlpaManpa’s members are mostly military veterans, especially Korean Military Academy alumni.

On September 23, 2020, the Jongno District Police Department in Seoul applied for an arrest warrant against Kim Kykung-jae and Kim Soo-yeo on charges of violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act and the Infectious Disease Prevention Act.

Choi Chang-Hoon (최창훈), Deputy Chief of Warrants, Seoul Central District Court, interrogated the accused, and the court approved the arrest warrant, claiming there is a chance of evidence tampering.

This arrest follows the jailing of Reverend Jeon Gwang-hoon (전광훈), who spoke on the state of IlpaManpa gathering on August 15, 2020.  

Seoul City government banned the August 15 (Saturday) rallies just a day and a half prior to the protest date citing Coronavirus.  The government, however, did not raise Coronavirus concerns for the frequent labor union rallies, late Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon’s public funeral, and young doctor’s protests.  The government also does not raise concern about the Coronavirus spread on the crowded Seoul subway, with 3.5 million riders daily.  In fact, the government encouraged people to go out to public places–amusement parks, movie theaters, beaches, etc.–that weekend by making that Monday (August 17) a day off, sending people coupons for various places, and encouraging people to take vacations.  Throngs of people took advantage of the extra long weekend and discounts.  Only the anti-Moon rallies at Gwanghwamun were blamed for the Coronavirus spread, even before the incubation period and before many were tested.

Of the 26 organizations that planned the rallies against the Moon government’s pro-China and anti-U.S. stance, as well as for the fraudulent elections, 10 organizations filed for injunctions with the Seoul administrative court, and the injunction was approved for 2 organizations, including IlpaManpa.  Thus, IlpaManpa’s rally was not “illegal” as the Moon government states. 

The government cited an uptick in Coronavirus cases, but that began the day before on August 14, which is not a long enough incubation period to blame the anti-Moon rallies.  The rallies were blamed anyway. 

Reverend Jeon had to cancel his organization’s rally, but did speak at the IlpaManpa stage.  The government claimed his congregation attended the rally and blamed his church, Sarang Jeil, for spreading Coronavirus, and subsequently jailed Reverend Jeon.  

Kim Kyung-jae also spoke on the IlpaManpa stage, and now he is arrested as well, along with IlpaManpa organizer, Kim Soo-yeol.

Not blamed for spreading Coronavirus were the attendees and organizers of the anti-U.S. rally held by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), which occurred on the same day, August 15, in downtown Seoul.  The militant and pro-North Korea KCTU has supported the Moon administration.

October 3 rallies?

As mentioned, huge rallies were also planned for October 3, 2020, with over 70 reports filed with the police, informing the police of the gatherings.  The government has cited that Coronavirus numbers have been going down in the last few weeks, and crowded activities have been ongoing. However, the government banned rallies of more than 9 people for October 3, again citing Coronavirus.  When the organizers came up with a car parade instead, the police also said no more than 9 cars.

The organizers decried that it was suppression of freedom of assembly.  Former Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo (김문수) and Pastor Seo Gyeong-seok (서경석), the representative of the “Citizens’ Movement for a New Korea” (새로운 한국을 위한 국민운동) held a press conference in front of the National Assembly on September 24, 2020.  Kim said, “We must express our anger over the evil acts and faults of the Moon Jae-in regime, even during the Corona-19 outbreak.”  “The only way to express our mind without getting caught in the Coronavirus trap that has been laid by the government is the car parade method, which is getting more attention recently.”  They opposed the assembly ban notice issued by the police and again filed a lawsuit for suspension of execution at the Seoul Administrative Court.

On September 25, 2020, The Chief of National Police Agency Kim Chang-ryong (김창룡) instructed the police to “take full action against the assembly,” including checkpoints to block entry, on site arrests, fines, license cancellation, and car towing.  The Police Chief refers to rallies, even with the cars as “illegal,” but had not explained how rallying inside cars spread Coronavirus nor did he provide scientific evidence for such a claim.

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun (정세균) stated on September 27, 2020, “There is also a movement to change the shape of the rallies to a vehicle assembly” and vowed, “We will respond with zero tolerance principles, including immediate arrests at the site and suspension of driver’s license.”

Contrary to the way the government is trying to prevent the anti-Moon car “drive parades,” the government did not make any issues of the “Free Lee Seok-ki” car parades with over 2,000 vehicles.  Lee Seok-ki (이석기), former head of the outlawed Unified Progressive Party, was jailed for inciting civil war and violating the National Security Law.  Lee told his followers of the underground Revolutionary Organization to blow up bridges and other infrastructures in the rear area of South Korea to help North Korea, if a war breaks out.

Furthermore, Busan District Court Chief Judge Kim Tae-gyu (김태규) questioned the legal basis for cancelling the licenses of those who attend the car assemblies on October 3, stating that there is no law that punishes rally goers for conducting assemblies in cars.

Last year, the protesters called for ousting Moon Jae-in and then-Justice Minister Cho Kuk.  Among numerous illegal and unethical activities, cheating and preferential treatment given to Cho Kuk’s daughter and son in university and medical school entrance angered the public.  Cho had to step down about a month into his position as the Justice Minister.  This year, the anger is aimed at Moon and Cho Kuk’s replacement, Choo Mi-ae, who essentially stopped investigations into Cho Kuk and other Blue House officials, using her position as the Justice Minister.  Choo Mi-ae is also steeped in scandals like her predecessor Cho Kuk.  Choo’s scandal involves favoritism for her son Seo Jae-hui (서재희) and abuse of authority in calling to arrange for extending Choo’s son’s military leave, overruling the leave extension denial by his chain of command in his unit, who had to track Seo down when he did not report back to his unit.  Seo apparently was playing League of Legend (a video game) at a PC Room.  Choo’s son was a KATUSA at the 2nd Infantry Division.  Until the leave extension was approved, Seo’s status would have been Absent Without Leave (AWOL).

The prosecutor, however, dropped all charges on September 28, 2020.  The prosecutor in charge is the head of the Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office, Kim Gwan-jeong (김관정).  Choo appointed him in January this year to the current position after she removed all prosecutors from the command line for the investigation of the Cho Kuk and the Blue House officials.

With the public’s frustration over Choo Mi-ae and a myriad of other issues under the Moon administration, such as North Korea’s shooting and burning of a South Korean citizen on September 22, 2020, the situation is ripe for another massive demonstration.  However, the Moon Jae-in administration is determined to stop the rallies by suppressing the freedom of assembly.