By Kwon Mee-yoo
The Seoul Metropolitan Council announced a revised ordinance allowing the freedom of the public to hold rallies at Seoul Plaza without prior approval Monday, but holding any rally will be virtually impossible for a while as it’s full of events scheduled by the Seoul City till February.
The plaza is reserved for various special events, including the opening of a skating rink the same as last year, causing conflicts with civic groups that want to hold rallies at the venue.
Civic organizations including the Chun Tae-il Memorial Foundation planned an event commemorating the 40th anniversary of Chun’s death on Oct. 30 and 31 at Seoul Plaza, but Seoul City rejected the proposal citing other pre-scheduled events.
Chun is a symbol of a labor rights in Korea, setting himself on fire to protest the working conditions of laborers in 1970.
The foundation hoped to offer exhibitions and performances in memory of Chun and hold candlelit vigils, while the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, one of the nation’s largest umbrella unions, desired to host a temporary workers’ convention there.
According to Seoul City, an agricultural festival for Pocheon City is scheduled for Saturday Oct 30, and the Korea Communications Commission (KCC) reserved Oct. 31 to build a pavilion to advertise the G20.
“Even if we obey the new ordinance, Pocheon and the KCC reported the plaza use first and we cannot just change the order,” a city official said. “If the KCC understands the situation, they might postpone the installation, but Saturday is already booked with another event.”
Park Kay-hyun, secretary general of the foundation, said the organization still wants to hold the event on Saturday, Oct. 30.
“It is difficult for regional organizations to come to Seoul on Sunday and thus the event would be downsized,” Park said.
He said they would negotiate with the city government if it continues to deny permission to hold Chun’s memorial ceremony at the plaza. “We expect Seoul Metropolitan Council to be more flexible and let us commemorate the 40th anniversary of Chun’s death,” Park said.