| This photo from Facebook shows a protester being arrested by police on charges of threatening an aide to former President Moon Jae-in in front of Moon's home in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, Aug. 16. Yonhap |
By Kwon Mee-yoo
Protests within 300 meters of the fence of former President Moon Jae-in's residence in the southeastern city of Yangsan will be banned from Monday, according to the presidential office on Sunday.
The Presidential Security Service (PSS), which operates within the grounds of Moon's residence, announced that the guard zone for the former president has been expanded to protect the former president, as well as residents of the village, from threats and noise from the protestors.
The move came after a protester was arrested for threatening Moon's aide with a box cutter last week during a one-person protest in front of Moon's house.
Since Moon moved to the area in May, after finishing his presidential term, loud rallies have been held around the premises, which is in the small rural town of Pyeongsan Village in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province.
"Dangerous items such as imitation handguns and box cutters have appeared during rallies in Pyeongsan Village, and we decided that we need to heighten security measures for the former president," the PSS said in a statement.
It added that the measure is also for the villagers who have been suffering from the loud and verbally abusive protests for months.
The measures include security checks, detection of dangerous goods and traffic control in the area.
| Conservative and liberal activists hold protests in front of former President Moon Jae-in's home in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, July 17. The Presidential Security Service announced Sunday that rallies within 300 meters from Moon's house are banned from Monday. Newsis |
Since his retirement, Moon and residents living in the neighborhood have been beset by the rallies of anti-Moon activists and the former president filed a complaint against them making insults and threats in May, but it did not stop the protests.
In early June, President Yoon Suk-yeol said that the protests should be handled in accordance with the law, as there are rallies held outside the presidential office as well.
It is presumed that President Yoon changed his mind after the suggestion of National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, who met Yoon on Friday.
Speaker Kim of the Democratic Party of Korea shared the back story behind President Yoon's decision to enhance protection for the former president following his advice.
“There have been one-person protests held in front of the former president's residence and they have become more radical as time has gone by. So I shared my thoughts with President Yoon that one of these protests could suddenly turn into an incident, and that he should discuss the matter with PSS members so that they can come up with a measure to protect the former president better,” Kim said during a news conference. “It is a late but welcome measure.”
Yoon is said to have ordered an official from the PSS to pay a visit to Moon concerning the protests as well.
Moon welcomed the expanded security. An unnamed aide said in a media interview that together with the expansion of the guard zone, he looks forward to the strict implementation of the strengthened security measures.