Police Launch Immediate Appeal Against Court’s Decision to Allow Homeless Demonstrations
On the 17th, it was reported that the police had initiated an ‘immediate appeal’ against the court’s ruling to permit homeless demonstrations in the city by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. This decision comes after the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions set up a tent and began a homeless protest in the Gwanghwamun district of Seoul on the 14th, prompting a clash with police officials.
Concerns and Legal Actions
The Jongno Police Station in Seoul has submitted an appeal to the Seoul Administrative Court, arguing that the ban on homeless gatherings by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions is justified. The police cited concerns over the safety of citizens and past disturbances caused by similar gatherings, such as traffic congestion, public intoxication, public urination, and littering during a previous rally last May.
Additionally, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions originally planned to hold a demonstration against the veto of the amendment to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act in front of Siop Ddi -Dongwha duty in Seoul. The police initially issued a ban on nighttime gatherings, citing inconvenience to citizens and noise concerns. However, the Seoul Administrative Court ruled in favor of the union, overturning the ban.
Current Situation
As a result of the court’s decision, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions has established approximately 20 tents in front of the Dongwha Duty Free Shop and has been holding nightly meetings and protests. However, the presence of the tents has caused disruptions for citizens and prompted police intervention, leading to road closures and increased difficulty for pedestrians passing through the area.
This marks the first time the court has allowed a ‘one-week homeless rally’, diverging from its previous decisions to permit one-time protests by trade unions and other organizations.
It was reported on the 17th that the police had launched an ‘immediate appeal’ against the court’s decision to allow ‘homeless demonstrations in the city’ by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. Since the 14th, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions has been setting up a tent and holding a homeless protest in the Gwanghwamun district of Seoul. The police refused to allow this, but the court allowed it.
The Jongno Police Station in Seoul announced on the 15th that it had submitted an appeal to the Seoul Administrative Court stating that the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions’ ban on homeless gatherings was justified. It is known that the police raised concerns mainly in the complaint about the safety of citizens due to homeless gatherings. It is said that it was also emphasized during the building union’s ‘1 Night 2 Day’ homelessness rally in the city last May, that it had caused traffic jams, union members drinking, urinating on the street, and littering.
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions previously reported to the police that it would hold a ‘counter-attempt to block the veto of the amendment to Articles 2 and 3 of the Trade Union Act (yellow envelope law)’ in front of Siop Ddi -Dongwha duty in Seoul, near Gwanghwamun, from 2 pm on the 13th to the 20th. However, the police announced a ban on gatherings at night due to inconvenience to citizens and noise. Accordingly, the union filed a request for a temporary injunction to stop the implementation of the notice banning the assembly to the Seoul Administrative Court, and the court ruled in favor of the union.
Accordingly, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions set up about 20 tents in front of the Dongwha Duty Free Shop from 9:30 pm on the 14th and held a homeless rally. They held meetings every night and slept outdoors in 20 to 30 tents. As tents occupied the streets of the city and the police even set up police lines to control the gathering, citizens passing through the area found it difficult to pass.
Although the court has allowed one-time homelessness protests by trade unions and other organisations, this is the first time it has allowed a ‘one-week homeless rally’.
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