Conservative vs. “Anti-Japan” groups clashed in front of Comfort Women Statue...
Late on September 11, 2022, a conservative group staged a surprise rally around the Comfort Women Statue in front of the former Japanese Embassy in Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea, resulting in a four-hour collision with an anti-Japan group that was protecting this statue.
At about 10:00 p.m. that day, members of the conservative one, “New Freedom Solidarity,” held a rally near the statue to demand the dissolution of the Korean Council.
At this time, a clash occurred between them and the “anti-Japan action,” an innovative group guarding the statue, growing into an uproar around there.
Such a collision continued even after 0:00 a.m. the next day, September 12. Kim Sang-jin, the head of “New Freedom Solidarity,” who attempted to break in near the statue and the members of the “anti-Japan action” who tried to obstruct his way had a lengthy face-off, causing one of the exhausted rally participants to be transferred to hospital.
The two parties were separated with a regulatory line by the police lest physical collisions should happen, but they continued “a collision of voice” by turning up the volume of their rally speakers. As this face-off dragged on, innovative and conservative you-tubers who had recognized the tumult rushed over there. Since the noises didn’t subside, some people staying in nearby accommodations came out to complain.
Such a standoff between the two ended when “New Freedom Solidarity” withdrew from the site around 2:10 a.m. on September 12.
The “anti-Japan action” claimed that the members of “New Freedom Solidarity” had attempted to harm the statue.
Those related to “New Freedom Solidarity” said, “While the later rally applicant (the “anti-Japan action”) left the site, we, the earlier, tried to have a rally, but the police acted too tardily to meet our request to protect it,” alleging their negligence of duty.
The Seoul Jongno Police Station plans to collect evidence from the scene and later interrogate those concerned on suspicion that both groups violated the Law on Assembly and Demonstration.
● Yonhap News Agency (September 12, 2022)
https://www.yna.co.kr/view/AKR20220911034851004?section=search