Today (15th), Liberation Day, some conservative groups held a large-scale rally in the Gwanghwamun area and the area is crowded.
The Liberty Unification Party, led by Senior Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon of Sarang First Church, held the 'August 15th 10 Million National Congress to Eliminate the Free Unification Movement' in front of Dongwha Duty Free Shop this afternoon.
More than 5,000 people began to gather an hour before the event, and the number of people attending the rally dramatically increased to over 20,000 right after the start of the event.
They gathered in about 150 buses and vans from all over the country.
As the front of the Dongwha Duty Free Shop was full of protesters, those who arrived late are scattered around Gwanghwamun Square and Sejong Center for the Performing Arts.
In the process, the police blocked some exits of Gwanghwamun Station, resulting in a fight with the protesters.
The number of people is expected to increase when the event begins in earnest, with Pastor Kwang-Hoon Jeon giving a speech.
The organizers of the rally have installed large billboards throughout so that participants can see the event in several places.
The traffic around Dongwha Duty Free is extremely congested.
With a stage set up on the road, only two lanes are allowed in the vicinity of Dongwha Duty Free Shop in the direction of Sejong-daero Seoul Station → Seoul City Council.
Earlier, the city of Seoul established a policy not to allow any gatherings or demonstrations that could generate noise or obstruct traffic so that Gwanghwamun Plaza could function as a 'citizen's resting space', which was originally intended to be created.
The police explained that today's rally is not held in Gwanghwamun Square and that the number of people staying in the square is a floating population or a waiting group for the assembly.
(Photo = Yonhap News)