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| Tens of thousands of conservative and progressive activists staged large rallies in downtown Seoul, Oct. 22, causing traffic disruptions. Yonhap |
Tens of thousands of conservative and progressive activists staged large-scale rallies in downtown Seoul on Saturday, chanting opposing slogans about sensitive political issues. The demonstrations ended without clashes.
Right-wing activists, including members of the far-right Liberty Unification Party, held a rally in Gwanghwamun against what they call pro-North Korea sympathizers.
Police estimated about 32,000 activists participated in the event.
Progressive activists also held an anti-government protest on nearby streets, with police projecting about 16,000 people joined the rally.
The massive rallies caused severe traffic disruptions surrounding main roads spanning from Gwanghwamun to City Hall in central Seoul.
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| This photo, taken Oct. 22, shows police mobilized to prevent possible clashes among conservative and progressive activists, as they held respective large-scale rallies in downtown Seoul. Yonhap |
Both sides expressed contrasting voices about sensitive political issues throughout the rallies.
Conservative activists called for the formal arrest of opposition leader Lee Jae-myung over his alleged involvement in a corruption-laden urban development scandal.
Liberal activists, meanwhile, denounced the prosecution's probe into Lee as "political revenge" and called on President Yoon Suk-yeol to step down.
Police initially stayed on alert to brace for possible clashes between the two sides near Samgakji, close to the presidential office in Yongsan, but there were no physical scuffles or violence.
Progressive activists embarked on a march toward the presidential office at 6:50 p.m. and voluntarily dispersed about one hour later as its organizers declared an end to the event.
About 2,500 members of right-wing civic groups gathered for a rally near a police station in Samgakji.
Police earlier set up fences and bus walls at the exits of the Samgakji subway station to restrict people's access.
Top officials of the National Police Agency discussed measures Friday to cope with possible violent clash between rival protesters and minimize traffic congestion. The meeting was presided over by Commissioner General Yoon Hee-keun. (Yonhap)
