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Blocking protests near presidential office illegal: court rules

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The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. / Korea Times file
The presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. / Korea Times file

By Park Si-soo

A provincial court has backed another case favoring the freedom to protest.

The Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday ordered police to compensate seven activists 500,000-1.5 million won ($446-1,340) for blocking their single-person anti-government protest near the presidential office in 2016.

The left-leaning activists filed a 35-million-won damages suit against police in November 2016 after police repeatedly thwarted their rallies against the scandal-hit conservative President Park Geun-hye, about 200 meters from Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential office's official name.

Police blocked their protests citing laws regarding presidential security. But the court ruled it had restricted their constitutional freedom of protest and expression of opinions.


Park Si-soo pss@koreatimes.co.kr


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