 A civic group member is taken away by police for an `illegal' press conference in Gwanghwamun Plaza, central Seoul, Monday. / Korea Times Photo by Bae Woo-han |
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Staff Reporter
Seoul Metropolitan Government will ban rallies and demonstrations and allow only cultural exhibitions at Gwanghwamun Plaza in central Seoul as the new site is already becoming a popular spot for families and tourists.
Opposition parties and civic groups urged the city to scrap the policy in a press conference at the plaza, Monday.
``To use the square, we need to get permission from both the city and the police, meaning that any assembly or demonstration is almost impossible there,'' an official of a civic organization said. ``Taxpayer money was put into the plaza but it has no real place for citizens and limits the freedom of assembly.''
The police considered the press conference as an illegal gathering and Park Won-suk, deputy secretary general of the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, and nine others were taken into custody.
The city did not fence off the plaza prior to the gathering, but police saw it as unlawful because they held protest signs.
Other people sided with the city administration and requested for a political demonstration-free area. ``Citizens need a peaceful place downtown without rallies. If the demonstrators keep occupying the plaza, the law should protect the people's right to a quiet area,'' said an office worker identified only as Park, 34.
Despite the controversy, the plaza is set to become a new Seoul landmark.
Citizens welcomed the new plaza with fountains, waterways, exhibitions and a carpet of flowers. ``I took my children here because they wanted to play in the fountain after seeing it on television,'' said Kim Eun-nam, 36, a housewife. ``It is nice to have a beautiful square with historical monuments in the heart of the city.''
The flower carpet was the most picturesque spot for visitors. Jung Young-ah, an office worker in his late 20s, held a large camera. ``I am from Busan and came here for a vacation. The timing was good so I could visit the plaza, especially the flower carpet. It's so beautiful,'' Jung said.
However, the capital's newest attraction also raised concerns regarding its safety.
Since the plaza is located at the center of a former 16-lane road and occupies six of the former lanes, it only has a thin barrier dividing it from traffic. Seoul City elevated the plaza 15 centimeters from the road surface and a two-meter-wide waterway separates the plaza from the car lane.
A taxi driving running alongside the plaza collided with another car while changing lanes and ended up 20 meters onto the square, Sunday.
Police suggested the city government to install better safety barriers around the plaza. The administration said it would triple security personnel temporarily while mapping out tighter safety measures.
Some citizens complained about a lack of resting places. ``The plaza is rather small with the flower carpet and exhibition halls. It would be better if there were more benches,'' Yoon Jung-hun, a university student, said.
meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr
