The National Farmers' Union (Jeonnong) has announced a rally in support of President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment, while police have decided to restrict their tractor march.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency stated on the 23rd that it issued a restriction notice prohibiting the march of tractors and cargo vehicles to Jeonnong's Jeon Bong-joon Struggle Team, citing concerns over physical clashes and weekday traffic disruptions.
The day before, the Jeon Bong-joon Struggle Team reported to the police that it would mobilize 20 tractors and 50 one-ton trucks for a rally starting at 3 p.m. on the 25th, marching from Namtaeryeong to Gwanghwamun for two hours.
On Dec. 21 last year, the Jeon Bong-joon Struggle Team also held a rally marching into Seoul with over 30 tractors and over 50 trucks, calling for the president's arrest. Although they were blocked by police barricades near Namtaeryeonggogae for 28 hours, they eventually marched near the president's residence in Hannam-dong.
Jeonnong assessed this rally as a 'Namtaeryeong Great Battle,' breaking through the police's barriers through the solidarity of farmers and citizens, and has announced a second march this week. At that time, some members of Jeonnong's leadership and participants were placed under investigation on charges of obstructing general traffic.
Police are concerned about the potential for large-scale violence during the tractor march, considering that the supporters of President Yoon, who were relatively weak at the time, have recently increased in number and are showing relatively aggressive tendencies. They believe that the possibility of actual action cannot be completely ruled out, similar to the situation at the Western District Court.
In fact, some supporters of President Yoon are posting in online communities about countering or thwarting Jeonnong's rally. The posts include statements such as 'Just try to bring them in' and 'Is there no support for patriotic dump truck drivers?' along with planning for physical obstruction.
However, Jeonnong immediately protested against the police's restriction notice and stated it would file for an injunction. Chairman Kang of Jeonnong argued that it is 'an excessive infringement on the freedom of assembly and association' and that measures such as police barricades that interfere with farmers' peaceful voices would rather cause traffic congestion and lead to greater chaos.