[르포]Conservatives and progressives burning every weekend … Massive demonstration in the square

On the 29th, the “National Convention to eliminate the scandal of free reunification” was held in front of the Dongwha Duty Free Shop in Seoul. Reporter Yang Hyung-wook
On the 29th, the last weekend of October, large-scale rallies were held in various parts of central Seoul and tens of thousands of people went there. Progressive and conservative groups each raised their voices and the square was split in two. As the fighting in the camp intensified, some citizens have complained of inconvenience due to traffic congestion and ambient noise.

Around 1pm the same day, the “National Congress to Eliminate the Free Unification Party”, hosted by the Liberty Korea Party, was held in front of the Dongwha Duty Free Shop in Jongno-gu, Seoul.

Near Gwanghwamun Station on Line 5, early arrivals were walking around the stage in procession. Inside the subway station, I saw citizens selling Taegeukgi and Stars and Stripes or holding flags and moving to the hangout.

On the 29th a demonstration was held in front of the Dongwha Duty Free Shop in Gwanghwamun, Seoul, hosted by the Liberty Korea Party. Good news
Organizers estimated that around 15,000 attendees waved signs left and right, shouting slogans like “Arrest Lee Jae-myung” and “Arrest Moon Jae-in”. They have also been seen waving the Taegeukgi and the stars and stripes or singing a folk trot together.

At the observation stand, a voice rang out saying, “(Citizens) will regret holding the candle even now and will believe that the Taegeukgi will be poured to Gwanghwamun.”

Esther Ju, in her fifties, who came to the rally from Cheonan, said: “People were so divided during the administration of Moon Jae-in” and “I’m worried about the country.” She continued: “We have been through difficult times and it is still difficult, but why are we holding candles?”

Special Prosecutor Kim Gun-hee was detained in Sejong-daero in Seoul on the 29th. Participants in the 12th candlelight march for the resignation of Yoon Seok-yeol are holding up placards and shouting slogans. Reporter Park Jong-min
A progressive civic group held a candlelight vigil calling for the resignation of President Yoon Seok-yeol.

At around 4:30 pm that day, the progressive civic group Candlelight Conversion Action held the “12th Candlelight March of Special Prosecutor Kim Gun-hee and Yun Seok-yeol” in the Seoul City Hall Station Area. Participants lit a candle-shaped LED and held it in their hands and shouted “Resign Yoon Seok-yeol” and “Special Attorney Kim Gun-hee”. Several citizens took part in the demonstration, from people with disabilities in wheelchairs to families with children.

Around 4:00 pm on the 29th, protesters are seated at the “Fight Fire Rally” hosted by New Freedom Solidarity. Reporter Yang Hyung-wook
On the other hand, New Freedom Solidarity, a conservative civic group, held a “Fight for Fire Rally” near Samgakji station on subway line 4 from 4:00 pm the same day. It was also noted that he was staking at passing cars while draped over the police line, and some attendees took photos of the demonstration with their cell phones.

Mun Young-cheol in his 70s, a participant in the demonstration, said: “I have come to prevent (progressive groups) from moving from Gwanghwamun to the presidential office.” Mun was holding a large flag.

On the afternoon of the 29th, the participants in the “National Convention against Autonomous Vehicles for Free Unification” held a picket at the site of the demonstration of the “Public Workers” General Resolution Congress of the two largest trade unions. Reporter Yang Hyung-wook
Progressive civic groups have raised their voices against the actions of conservative civic groups. Song Nam-hyeon (68), who participates in the weekly candlelit conversion protests, complained: “I don’t know why they are interrupting and cursing.”

Big flags are coming to the “Public Workers” General Resolution Congress of the two largest trade unions held on the 29th. Journalist Yang Hyung-wook
Meanwhile, the labor community held a rally to criticize the Yun Seok-yeol administration’s labor policy. The Confederation of Trade Unions and the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (KCTU) held the “General Resolution of the Public Workers Conference” in front of the Koreana Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul at 2:00 pm the same day.

Participants wearing union name vests sat on a mat on the driveway and sidewalk and held placards with the words “Prevent privatization and restructuring” and “Enhance the public interest”. The marchers holding the large union flag wore red headbands with the words “Unity Struggle” written across their foreheads. At the start of the event, folk songs rang from the amps around the stage, and there was screaming and surfing from the front row in turn.

A large-scale demonstration of conservative and progressive groups in central Seoul over the weekend. Good news

Park Hae-cheol, president of the Federation of Public Industry Unions of the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (KCTU), who took the speech, criticized: “Public workers have done their best to protect people’s fundamental rights.”

At the height of the two main trade union demonstrations, voices of criticism from the Free Unification Party rang out, such as “The KCTU went to North Korea” and “The people were divided in two”. The two protesters chanted slogans as if they were competing.

Around 6:00 pm on the 29th, participants in the “12th Candlelight March of Special Prosecutor Kim Gun-hee and Yun Seok-yeol” are holding up signs and shouting slogans. Reporter Yang Hyung-wook
When the opposition between liberal and conservative civic groups culminated in the square, some citizens complained of inconvenience due to traffic congestion and noise problems in the city center.

The citizens who passed in front of the place of the demonstration covered their ears and moved quickly. A police officer, who handled traffic near Dongwha Duty Free, said: “It’s the hardest thing not to reduce the decibels when you’re near the stage.” In a cultural facility near the meeting place, a notice was written stating that noise problems may occur during the assembly.

Special Prosecutor Kim Gun-hee was detained in Sejong-daero in Seoul on the 29th. Participants in the 12th Candlelight March of Yun Seok-yeol’s resignation are marching. Reporter Park Jong-min
Since the previous day (28), the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency installed 60 signs in the assembly section and sent 240 traffic police officers to handle the traffic situation in the city. At the collection site, police officers from 2 to 30 units from the Seoul Metropolitan Agency Task Force and the traffic police from Jongno Police Station and Namdaemun Police Station in Seoul took part in traffic management. The town hall station and the Samgak area near the assembly were crowded with citizens using public transport.