PM warns protesters rallying in front of incumbent and former president's residences
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, right, shakes hands with former President Moon Jae-in at his retirement residence in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, Thursday. Captured from Facebook
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo's visit to former President Moon Jae-in's retirement residence in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province could serve as a breakthrough in putting an end to escalating rallies in front of the homes of incumbent and former presidents and a feud between the conservative and liberal blocs.
Han paid a courtesy visit to Moon in his new home city, some 300 kilometers southeast of Seoul, Thursday. He said visiting former presidents is a ritual for many prime ministers.
The two exchanged their views on current economic conditions and international issues as well as Moon's life after retirement.
"As a prime minister, I paid a visit to the former president to receive advice on state affairs and Moon responded positively," Han wrote on his Facebook after the visit.
Han, who was prime minister from 2007 to 2008, worked with Moon under the Roh Moo-hyun administration when Moon was Roh's senior presidential secretary.
The prime minister weighed in on the situation following Moon's retirement where conservative activists and demonstrators have been holding rallies in front of the former president's house that are said to have affected Moon and the local residents due to excessive noise and use of abusive language.
Han issued stern words directed at bringing an end to the turbulent rallies.
"Pyeongsan Village has a great view, but the village is suffering from these rallies. I respect legitimate rallies and demonstrations, but intemperate insults and illegal protests should be dealt with by the law," Han wrote.
Han told reporters after a COVID-19 response meeting, Friday, that the government will take action against illegal elements of the rallies both in front of Yoon's residence and Moon's residence.
"We cannot ban the rallies as long as they are legal, but if the protestors cross the line and behave unlawfully, the judicial authorities will handle matters in accordance with the law," Han said.
Liberal activists hold a rally in front of President Yoon Suk-yeol's residence in southern Seoul, Wednesday, to protest against loud rallies outside former President Moon Jae-in's home in the southeastern city of Yangsan. Yonhap
Rallies in front of current, former presidents' homes
After over a month of continuous rallies, Moon filed a complaint against some of the demonstrators earlier this month, accusing them of insulting and defaming him and violating laws on public security, to which police responded by imposing bans on some of the rallies in front of Moon's residence.
Yangsan Police said they are dealing with the rallies according to the Assembly and Demonstration Act and will allow legitimate rallies, but those that exceed noise standards or disturb the peace and privacy of residents will be banned.
Despite the ban, conservative activists continued rallies in front of Moon's house and the situation took an unexpected turn when liberal activists countered by staging noisy rallies on Tuesday in front of the apartment in Seocho District, where President Yoon Suk-yeol's private residence is located,. Liberal activists affiliated with YouTube channel Voice of Seoul played recordings of loud shouts and abusive language by anti-Moon demonstrators in front of Yoon's house.
The rallies came after Yoon said last week that protests in front of Moon's home should be dealt with under the law just like rallies outside the presidential office.
Meanwhile, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) proposed four revised bills on the Assembly and Demonstration Act to limit the noise level and content of rallies to prevent insulting language.