The farmers of the Jeonbuk Farmers' Association, led by Jeon Bong-jun, confront police forces near the Namtaeryeong Pass in Seoul while driving tractors and trucks to protest for the arrest of President Yoon Seok-yeol on Dec. 21./Courtesy of News1
The farmers of the Jeonbuk Farmers' Association, led by Jeon Bong-jun, confront police forces near the Namtaeryeong Pass in Seoul while driving tractors and trucks to protest for the arrest of President Yoon Seok-yeol on Dec. 21./Courtesy of News1

Police expressed concerns about the possibility of clashes with opposing groups as they denied permission for a tractor rally supporting President Yoon Suk-yeol's impeachment.

Park Hyun-soo, acting chief of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, noted during a regular press briefing on 24th that "tension has risen ahead of the Constitutional Court's ruling on President Yoon's impeachment trial, and the risk of conflict and friction between the pro- and anti-impeachment groups is very high."

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency issued a movement restriction notice regarding the tractor rally planned by the Korean Peasants League (Jeonnong) on the 25th, which they described as the "immediate removal of Yoon Suk-yeol Jong Bong-jun struggle group tractor rally." Jeonnong previously drove tractors to Seoul in December last year and clashed with police at Namtaeryeong, even reaching the president's official residence in Hannam-dong. At that time, police permitted them to advance to Namtaeryeong, but this time it was denied.

Acting Chief Park explained the reason for the police's change in stance, saying, "The tractor rally poses inherent risks, and the opposing group has indicated that they will not tolerate it, leading to a high possibility of conflict." He added that the march of 20 tractors and 50 1-ton trucks would be restricted, while people would be allowed to march.

Regarding Jeonnong's opposition to the police restrictions and their filing for a stay order in court on that day, he said, "We will judge based on the final outcome from the court," adding, "If a decision from the court allows it, we have no choice but to respect it."

◇ "On the day of the ruling, one-person protests will also be restricted"

Police reiterated their intention to create a so-called "vacuum state" around the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the day of the Presidential impeachment trial ruling, stating that no exceptions would be made for National Assembly members. Currently, there are protest tents from supporters of President Yoon near the main gate of the Constitutional Court. They are using legal press conferences or the pretext of one-person protests to avoid the police’s restrictions on gatherings. Members of the People Power Party are also moving back and forth in this area.

When asked whether there would be measures if National Assembly members guard in front of the Constitutional Court, Acting Chief Park responded, "This is a matter that must be applied without exception to anyone, so we plan to discuss with the members."

He also mentioned that regarding one-person protests on the day of the ruling, according to Article 5 of the Police Duties Act, Article 6 of the same Act, and Article 5, Paragraph 1 of the Assembly and Demonstration Act, "If violence or damage is anticipated, or if public safety risks are expected, gatherings and demonstrations can be prohibited."