Police have banned the "anti-China protest" that had been held near the Chinese Embassy in Korea from entering Myeong-dong in Seoul.
According to police on the 12th, the Namdaemun Police Station in Seoul issued a restriction notice to groups including "Mincho Gyeolsadae," which had reported plans to hold a rally and march near the Chinese Embassy at 7:30 p.m. that day, barring them from entering Myeong-dong.
Until now, authorities had allowed protesters to hold rallies on Myeong-dong's backstreets while restricting them to minimize entry within 100 meters of the Chinese Embassy. Starting that day, entry itself was banned.
Police also issued a restriction notice such as "ban on friction-inducing acts" to prohibit the use of profanity and violence during rallies or marches, aiming to prevent unnecessary clashes with diplomatic envoys and tourists.
On the 9th, President Lee Jae-myung referred to the anti-China protests as "ruckus" at a Cabinet meeting and called for effective measures. In response, police said on the 10th, the following day, that they were reviewing a restriction notice banning friction-inducing acts.
The Myeong-dong Tourism Special Zone Council, whose members include businesses in the Myeong-dong commercial district, also sent an official letter to the Namdaemun Police Station the day before requesting restrictions on protests within Myeong-dong.