By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said Monday that it will continue to keep the Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall off limits to the public ``for a while.''
Its Commissioner Joo Sang-yong told reporters that: ``We should look into the matter of opening the plaza in a comprehensive manner, taking legal issues into consideration.''
His remarks come as disputes are mounting over the police blockade of the plaza with buses in a bid to prevent civic groups from holding unauthorized demonstrations there.
However, they have been criticized for ``abusing'' their power by cordoning off the plaza that is supposed to be open to the public.
It was widely assumed that the blockade was out of concern that citizens who are grieving over the death of former President Roh Moo-hyun would rally against the current administration. The plaza, which has been tightly guarded by police since May 23, the day of Roh's death, was temporarily opened for a day last Friday, for the funeral. It was closed off again the next day.
However, critics say it was a police decision to restrict access, without a request from the Seoul Metropolitan Government which has the right to ask for protection of its facilities.
A police agency official said police have the right to shut or block all places involving public security without a request from the relevant administration, in the case of an emergency.
Many people question whether Seoul Plaza, initially made for the leisure of citizens, is a space for public security such as military facilities.
Such blockades cause immense damage to other events, observers claim. A market parade conducted by five regional governments nationwide as well as a five-day-cultural event by the Seoul government were cancelled due to the blockade Monday.
``How can someone think public security is in danger when no illegal protest has taken place yet?'' Lee Jae-keun of the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, said.
The plaza covered with grass was initially made to hold cultural meetings, an ice-skating rink in winter and other events. It was favored by many civic groups to hold various promotional events, but was used as the main spot for candlelit protests against the government's resumption of U.S. beef imports last year.