About the Citizens Rally for Defending the National Security Law

A large-scale “Citizens Rally for Defending the National Security Law” against the abolition of the National Security Law was held in downtown Seoul at 4:00 p.m., October 4 in the presence of around 120,000 people, including conservative seniors and members of both civil and religious groups.

Forty thousand members of conservative groups such as the Korea Freedom League attended this event, held by the Anti-nuclear Anti-Kim Commission at the City Hall plaza. Also, 60,000 participants of the “Salvation Prayer for the Nation and the People” held by the Christian Council of Korea at the same place prior to this event joined this rally. Twenty thousand citizens also participated.

The assembly was lead by conservative seniors such as former Prime Minister Hyun Seung-jong, president of Free Democratic Nation Council Lee Chul-seung, president of Korean War Veterans Chae Myung-shin, and president of Christian Council of Korea Gil Ja-yeon.

In the “Petition to the President and the People,” they claimed that “the abolition of the National Security Law is a an act of national suicide, giving the North Korean Communist powers and South Korean left-wingers a license to destroy the Republic of Korea, and is also an anti-democratic act totally going against popular opinion.”

They also said, “The president should withdraw the comment about abolishing the National Security Law, and the Uri Party should also cancel its stance on the law,” and added, “We will fight with our lives against those pro-North Korea, anti-U.S. groups that follow North Korea and try to abolish the National Security Law.”

They chose as their resolutions: the Grand National Party’s apology on its decision to support the abolition and modification of certain parts of the National Security Law; giving up the effort to abolish the National Security Law, an act that could lead to North Korea’s hostile reunification of Korea; and the struggle to keep the National Security Law intact.

Vice President of National Action Headquarters Suh Jung-gap said, “This assembly is a strict warning to the government and leaders of the ruling party who are trying to force the abolishment of this law in spite of that fact that the majority of the people are against it and that there are no proper reasons.”

Anti-North Korean performances, including a burning of the North Korean flag, were held, and former spies once dispatched to North Korea, Marine Corps veterans, and members of youth groups struggled with police forces during an effort to march to the Blue House, causing chaos from time to time.

Police prepared themselves for possible incidents such as self-burning attempts by sending 7,500 police forces from 60 troops from 12:00 p.m. and also confiscated dangerous objects through check ups prior to the demonstrations.

Meanwhile, “Protestant Group Hoping for the Abolishment of the National Security Law” held a silent march this day at around 12:00 p.m from Jongno5-ga to Gwanghwamun. Also, at Marronier Park in Daehak-ro, 3000 inhabitants of Buan and the “Commission of Buan Citizens against Nuclear Waste Depot” held a “Rally against Nuclear Waste Depot in Buan.”

The “Nationwide Commission against Golf Course Construction” held its inauguration ceremony in the presence of 300 people, including members of the Democratic Labor Party, in front of the National Assembly Hall in Yeoido, causing serious traffic jams throughout downtown Seoul.

Yang-Hwan Jung Se-Jin Jung ray@donga.com mint4a@donga.com