Police Commissioner Kim Chang-ryong stated that it was an inevitable choice in connection with the backlash from the politicians, such as over-response, over the blockade of urban gatherings such as Seoul's Gwanghwamun Plaza on the 3rd, when the opening day of the country.
Commissioner Kim said at a press conference held today (5th) at the Migeun-dong office in Seodaemun-gu, "The measures to block the National Foundation Day are an inevitable option to minimize concerns about the spread of infectious diseases that can be caused by direct contact."
He said, "It was an important task for the prevention of infectious diseases and law enforcement to ensure that the banned rally did not actually take place," he said. "The banned assembly professed to stop the gathering from the field in advance, and I thought a lot about how to do that." I did.
“The way to minimize contact between the protesters and the police, and the protesters and the general public is to install a police line at the place where the assembly is scheduled, and a police barrier on the main roadway.” “But there was a movement to force participation in the assembly at some places. "I explained.
He also emphasized, "I know well that there are claims that the police's actions are too excessive," he said. "It is absolutely unacceptable for banned or unreported rallies to be held."
Commissioner Kim said that some organizations, such as the August 15 Emergency Response Committee, decided to report the assembly on Hangeul Day on the 9th, saying, "We will find the best way to minimize the spread of infectious diseases without holding illegal assemblies." If we need to do something like this, we will."
According to the police, as of today, a total of 1,96 meetings were reported in the Seoul area on Hangeul Day.
Of these, the police have announced a ban on holding 102 cases.
Commissioner Kim said, "The quarantine authorities have issued an administrative order to prohibit the assembly to prevent the risk of infection, and the police are giving a ban on this basis," said Kim. "If the administrative order is adjusted according to the level of the risk of Corona 19, the police also manage the assembly accordingly. "We plan to change the way."
He refuted that in connection with the criticism that the police barriers installed in Gwanghwamun Square etc. were unconstitutionalized by the Constitutional Court in 2011, there is also a precedent that the police can install the barriers if certain requirements are met in unavoidable circumstances.
Meanwhile, the police are planning to conduct a corona 19 diagnostic test in consultation with the quarantine authorities during today on about 1,000 police officers who worked on the barrier line on the front line of the Gaecheon Day.
(Photo = Yonhap News)