The People's Power and the government announced today (24th) that they will consider not allowing groups with illegal power to report plans to hold rallies and demonstrations.

Rallies and demonstrations held in the city center during rush hour will also be restricted at the notification stage.

In addition, we decided to push for legislation related to the ban on gatherings between 0 a.m. and 6 a.m., and to improve existing manuals and practices related to assemblies and demonstrations that discourage the exercise of official authority by the police.

At a briefing this morning at the National Assembly after the party's political consultative meeting to establish public order and protect people's rights and interests, House Majority Leader Yoon Jae-ok said, "We agreed that we should respond more thoroughly even at the stage of reporting the rally in the future."

Senate Majority Leader Yoon said, "We will also consider restricting gatherings and demonstrations where it is clear that a group with illegal power will pose a direct threat to the legal interests of others or public welfare and order, such as this rally."

He added, "There was also a consensus that rallies and demonstrations held on major urban roads during rush hour should be restricted at the notification stage."

He emphasized, "It is also necessary to actively interpret gatherings under the guise of night culture festivals and expedient or illegal gatherings in accordance with the intent of the law."

Referring to the KCTU Construction Workers' Union's "homeless rally" on the 1nd and 2st night, Yoon said, "We need to respond to homelessness by viewing it as an extension of the rally and protest, not just a matter of sleeping."

He said he would hold consultations with the opposition parties around his proposed bill to ban rallies and demonstrations from 0 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Senate Majority Leader Yoon said, "There was also an opinion that noise types that infringe on privacy and tranquility should be included in the noise regulation for gatherings and demonstrations," adding, "There is also a proposal by Rep. Kwon Young-se to strengthen noise standards to the extent of 5 to 10 decibels (dB) overall."

"We need to improve the previous government's manuals and bad practices in the field that discourage the legitimate exercise of public power," he said, adding, "We need to take measures to protect officials in the field from being penalized for exercising their official power."

(Photo=Yonhap News)