Senior-led 9/9 Declaration Plans Large-scale Rallies

The seniors who led “the 9/9 Declaration of the Current State of Affairs” held a breakfast meeting at the Seoul Club on the morning of September 15 and agreed to hold a “Support and Resolution Rally for the Declaration” in Busan before the Chusok holiday.

The meeting members numbered 13 in total, including Professor Emeritus Kim Dong-kil, former Assemblymen Kim Hyun-wook and Lee Dong-bok, former Internal Affairs Minister Ahn Eung-mo, and former Defense Minister Lee Jong-ku, and the Veterans’ Association Security Director Bae Sang-ki.

The members confirmed their opinion that “the declaration cannot end just as a one-time event,” and decided to organize the “Declaration 9/9 Group” to react to the ruling party, which is forcing the abolition of the National Security Law, in a more structured way. Therefore, the operation committee will be organized soon, and 20 to 30 seniors from various former careers will participate.

A 9/9 Group spokesperson, Lee Dong-bok, said, “It is a non-political gathering where everyone who signs becomes a member, and we will not associate ourselves with a specific party. But, we will cooperate with conservative groups when it is necessary.”

The seniors will hold a national tour of support rallies starting in Busan before the Chusok holiday in other major cities throughout the nation, while maintaining a signature-collecting drive nationwide at the same time.

Former Minister Ahn said, “The most important goal is to let people know of the emergency state of affairs, and we will respond to sensitive issues such as abolishing the National Security Law, the relocation of the capital, historical truth-finding work, and others issues within that mold.”

Meanwhile, the declaration has attracted 1,600 signatures so far, including the ones of former health and welfare minister Chu Yang-ja and former Air Force Chief Han Ju-seok.

Yi-Young Cho lycho@donga.com