A barricade is installed next to the crosswalk in front of the main gate of Hannam Elementary School in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. /News1

"It's noisy and scary."

On the 13th, Park (10), who was heading to an after-school class at Hannam Elementary School in Yongsan District, Seoul, was holding her mother's hand tightly. Her mother stood at the school gate, looking worried until she could no longer see her daughter entering the school past the police cordon.

Hannam Elementary School began its winter break for 33 days on the 1st, but various educational activities, including after-school programs, care classes, and extended spring classes, are still ongoing. During the break, 205 students are coming and going at the school, including 14 kindergarteners.

Hannam Elementary School is adjacent to Hannam-daero. The northern side of the school is the road leading to the presidential residence, and beyond the left wall of the school, demonstrations for and against President Yoon are taking place. The school gate is about 150 meters from the entrance to the presidential residence. There is only one entrance to Hannam Elementary School that students must pass through to get to school, where supporters of President Yoon are staging a protest.

On the school fence, next to the banner saying "Please keep the school route safe for our children," placards reading "We will fight with President Yoon Seok-yeol" and "415 fraudulent election death penalty" are also hanging. The sidewalk next to the school is messy with materials from an overnight protest, including reflective mats, blankets, and boxes. When Park was entering the school, a supporter of President Yoon was playing military songs on a speaker and shouting, "Arrest the 빨XX," and "Impeachment invalid."

Supporters of President Yoon are occupying the road near Hannam Elementary School without notifying the police about their gathering. According to the police, demonstrators have been gathering in front of the school since a warrant was issued on Dec. 31 last year. They have been camping out here since the 3rd, when there was an attempt to execute the first arrest warrant by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-Ranking Officials. At times, there are about 300 participants, while at other times, there are around 30.

Supporters of President Yoon Suk-yeol are demonstrating on the sidewalk next to Hannam Elementary School in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. /Reporter Jeong Du-yong

Those calling for the impeachment of President Yoon are also gathering in Hannam-dong. They mainly hold demonstrations in front of the Volvo Building and Ilshin Hall, located about 200 meters and 150 meters from the school gate, respectively, following police guidance. The pedestrian bridge in front of Hannam Elementary School leads to the Volvo Building and Ilshin Hall. Because of this, clashes frequently occur between the supporters of President Yoon gathered in front of the school gate and the other group. Insults are exchanged, and it is common for each side to try to snatch the other's placards or prevent movement.

Kim, who has a child attending Hannam Elementary School, said, "Recently, while crossing the pedestrian bridge with my child, there were unmentionable insults from both sides near the school gate, so I held my child and told them, 'Don't listen to it.'" She added, "I hope there won't be any clashes at least in front of the school." Lee, a parent who came along on the way to school for his 5th-grade daughter's violin after-school class, said, "At worst, around 100 demonstrators gather in front of the school," and noted, "The school has requested that we come together."

◇ "Working mothers sending their children to 'care classes': 'I only feel sorry'" The protesters say, "There will be no dispersal."

Hannam Elementary School canceled its preliminary gathering for new students on the 6th and did not hold after-school classes on the 6th, as protesters approached the school gate and some attempted to enter the campus under the pretext of using the restroom. In response, the Central Education Office and Yongsan Police have implemented measures to ensure the safety of the children since the 9th.

The police have reestablished a cordon to prevent demonstrators from approaching the school gate, and the Central Education Support Office has formed a "Unified Safety Support Team," consisting of four members who protect children at the school gate from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. If parents cannot come to pick up their children, the team will accompany them until they are far from the protest site. Because the protest has made it impossible for school buses to approach the school gate, a safe zone has been created to allow stopping.

The police requested the protesters to disperse verbally on-site, but there has been no change. A police officer encountered at the scene said, "It is essentially difficult to forcibly disperse them."

On the 13th, a man wearing a sign saying 'Arrest Lee Jae-myung' stands in front of the main gate of Hannam Elementary School in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. /Reporter Jeong Du-yong

Parents who sent their children to the Hannam Elementary School extended spring program (11 students) and the care class (30 students) are anxious. This is because the activities may end late, around 2 to 3 p.m., or as late as 6:30 p.m. Working mother Lee (47) noted, "Today, I took a half-day leave because I was worried about my child, but I can't do that every time," and added, "I feel only sorry as a busy mother."

Choi (57), who is staging a sit-in protest nearby, said, "Not everyone participating is threatening, but I feel sorry because children may be scared," but added, "We must have supporters of President Yoon in various places to protect the country from communist forces, so we will not disperse."