Seoul police to restrict anti-China protests in Myeong-dong

Participants in an anti-China rally march from the Chinese Embassy in Myeong-dong, Seoul, to the Constitutional Court, Aug. 10. Korea Times photo by Choi Ju-yeon

Seoul police announced plans Wednesday to impose stricter restrictions on anti-China protests near the Chinese Embassy in Myeong-dong, aiming to prevent clashes and safeguard both diplomatic staff and tourists as demonstrations escalate.

According to the Namdaemun Police Station, which has jurisdiction over the area, authorities are reviewing formal notices of limitations on assembly for groups such as Free University, which have organized recurring protests in the embassy’s vicinity.

Police said the measures will specifically prohibit actions likely to trigger friction, including verbal abuse and physical altercations targeting foreign diplomats and passersby.

“Violations of these restrictions could result in dispersal orders, future bans on assemblies and even criminal prosecution for repeated infractions,” a police official said. “Police are prepared to make immediate arrests on site for acts that fall under criminal defamation or assault.”

Most protest organizers come from five right-wing, youth-led groups that support former President Yoon Suk Yeol. They have regularly staged demonstrations near the Chinese Embassy in Myeong-dong since his impeachment, accusing China of interfering in Korea's national elections.

A conservative protester carries signs with anti-China slogans during a rally near the Chinese Embassy in Myeong-dong, Seoul, Aug. 13. Korea Times photo by Choi Ju-yeon

Demonstrators have chanted provocative slogans such as “China Out” and “Xi Jinping Out,” directed at embassy staff and foreign tourists, prompting disturbances in the area. In several incidents, groups of over 300 people use horns, drums and discriminatory language against Chinese nationals and North Korean defectors. Several tourists and local merchants have left the area or expressed discomfort in response.

Recent rallies escalated into diplomatic incidents, including a protester being detained for insulting foreign envoys after tearing a banner depicting Chinese Ambassador Dai Bing.

These hardline protests have sparked calls for effective countermeasures. In a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, President Lee Jae Myung condemned these rallies as “not freedom of expression but wreaking havoc” and urged practical preventive solutions.

Meanwhile, Korea expects to see a rebound in Chinese tourists as it begins allowing visa-free entry to groups of three or more tourists starting Sept. 29.