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| A "ghost rally" using holographic images / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul |
By Kim Se-jeong Police in Seoul are seeking to punish Amnesty International Korea for waging an anti-government "ghost rally" using holographic images, the first of its kind in Korea.The international human rights group projected holographic images of protesters on a screen at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, Wednesday, the eve of the third anniversary of President Park Geun-hye's administration.In the 30-minute projection, holographic people chanted slogans like "Guarantee peaceful assembly" and "We are not illegal," also holding a banner reading "Assembly is a human right." Some walked in silence, wore masks and held flowers to their chests.The holographic work ended with five participants urging the government to respect their constitutional rights.Police officers were near the projection site, taking photos and videos of Amnesty International members who projected the images and people who gathered there to support the virtual protest.The police had already warned the group that the virtual rally could violate the law on assembly and demonstration."If the event includes chanting indicative of a collective expression of opinion, it can be considered as a demonstration, and this means the rally would be illegal because the organizer did not report it in advance," said Lee Sang-won, commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Tuesday.Violators of the law are punishable with two years in prison or a 2 million won fine."We will review the images thoroughly and the atmosphere in which the projection took place," a police officer, who identified himself as Kwon, said.The police will first have to decide whether the hologram event is a demonstration or a cultural activity.Amnesty International Korea received permission to use the square from the Seoul Metropolitan Government by reporting it as a cultural activity. The group originally planned a demonstration with live people near Cheong Wa Dae, but changed it to the holographic demonstration after the police banned it.It is also controversial whether the law on assembly and demonstration can be applied to the people in the images.Even though the police conclude it was an illegal, unreported rally, they will also have to decide who to punish ― the people in the images, the organizers, or citizens who gathered at the scene.Amnesty International Korea insisted it had done nothing illegal and criticized the police for passing early judgment."This demonstrates that the police place their own discretionary authority above the fundamental right to assembly," the group said in a statement. The group also criticized the police for abusing their power.The group planned the holographic protest with the aim to criticize the government which has been suppressing the constitutional rights of assembly and speech. The project drew immense interest from citizens, with almost 120 participants helping put together the holographic work.This was the first holographic protest in Korea and the second internationally, following one in Spain.
서울 광화문에서 홀로그램을 이용한 '유령집회'가 열린다.
국제앰네스티 한국지부는 박근혜 대통령 취임 3년을 하루 앞둔 24일 오후 7시30분 서울 종로구 광화문광장 북측에서 '2·24 앰네스티 유령집회'를 연다고 22일 예고했다.
이들은 광화문 광장에 가로 10m, 세로 3m 특수 스크린을 세워놓고 여기에 홀로그램 영상을 비추는 방식으로 홀로그램 집회를 진행할 계획이다. 이들은 이를 위해 서울시로부터 광화문광장 사용 허가를 받았다.
120여명이 참여해 만든 홀로그램 영상은 평화집회 보장을 요구하는 시민 발언과 참가자들이 행진하는 모습, 구호를 외치는 장면 등 10분 분량으로 구성됐다. 앰네스티는 이를 세 번 반복해 총 30분 동안 틀 계획이다.
이런 신종 집회시위와 관련, 경찰은 홀로그램이라 하더라도 구호를 제창하는 등 집단 의사를 표현하면 집회·시위로 보겠다는 방침을 세웠다.
이상원 서울지방경찰청장은 이날 출입기자들과 간담회에서 '홀로그램으로 구호를 제창하거나 집단 의사를 표현하면 그 자체가 집회시위니 제재하겠다'고 밝혔다.
현장에 모인 사람들이 아니라 홀로그램 영상 속 등장인물들이 구호를 외치는 것을 과연 집회·시위로 볼 수 있는지 논란이 예상된다.
앰네스티 관계자는 '경찰이 집회·시위와 관련한 법을 자의적으로 해석해 기본권을 침해하려 하고 있다'며 '우리가 유령집회를 계획하게 된 것 자체가 바로 이와 같은 집회 자유를 보장하라고 주장하기 위한 것'이라고 반박했다.
시민사회단체연대회의 관계자는 '홀로그램 영상 등장인물이 구호를 외친다고 집회·시위로 치부하려는 경찰은 헌법과 법률이 규정하는 집회·시위 개념을 다시 한번 봐야 할 것'이라며 '(경찰이 제재한다면) 이는 헌법소원감이라고 볼 수밖에 없다'고 주장했다.
홀로그램 집회는 지난해 4월 스페인에서 처음으로 시도됐으며 이번이 세계에서 두 번째 시도다. (연합뉴스)
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