By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff reporter
The new Seoul Metropolitan Council (SMC), controlled by the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), plans to initiate a bill to reopen Seoul Plaza to individuals and civic groups who want to stage rallies or ceremonial events.
Kim Myung-soo, the SMC Steering Committee chairman and DP floor leader nominee, said Sunday he will submit a revised bill on the use of Seoul Plaza during the first special session of the eighth council meeting, which will open July 13.
The opposition party is now a majority on the city council elected in the June 2 local elections. In the previous term, the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) had 102 seats out of 106, but the DP won 79 seats in the latest election, becoming the majority party.
The bill to revise ordinances on using Seoul Plaza from the license system to the report system was submitted to the previous council in March this year, signed by 85,000 citizens, but failed to be approved due to GNP opposition.
Under the current municipal ordinance, those who want to hold an event at Seoul Plaza have to get permission from the city in advance.
"We want to return the plaza to the citizens by changing the system," Kim said. "We will determine our position at Tuesday's DP councilors meeting and propose the bill at the plenary session."
With all the DP city councilors supporting the opening of the plaza, the bill is likely to be passed when it is brought to the general meeting.
"However, we will discuss measures to prevent accidents from happening in the square," Kim added.
By wielding its majority power in the council, the main opposition party is expected to overturn a number of policies that had been pushed by the previous council. The opposition-controlled council is also expected to clash with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon of the GNP over diverse policy issues.
"We will establish a special committee to review budgets for a range of projects, such as the Han River Renaissance Project and Design Seoul policies," Kim said. "We will also come up with money for free meals for all students and other policies for Seoul citizens."
Since its establishment in May 2004, Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall has been a favorite venue by rally organizers. But the GNP-controlled city council later passed an ordinance to restrict rallies there by requiring organizers to obtain permits from the city for their activities.
Since the law governing nighttime outdoor rallies became invalid on July 1, there have been a series of after-sunset protests across the nation.
With the National Assembly having failed to revise the law governing nighttime outdoor rallies by June 30, all outdoor activities at night have become legal. In September last year, the nation's highest court ruled that the law banning rallies in public space at night was unconstitutional, urging lawmakers to come up with alternative measures.
The largest protest was held at Seoul Plaza Saturday night, but there was no clash between the protesters and the police.
Some 4,500 people from five opposition parties, civic organizations and religious circles gathered to show their objection against the Four River Restoration Project.
The police deployed some 900 officers in downtown Seoul to guard against possible violence, but the rally came to an end at around 10 p.m. without incident.