Seoul Plaza located at the heart of Korea¡¯s capital city is stirring up a feud between the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Metropolitan Council over whether or not it should be open to ralliers.

The debate flared up after the Seoul Metropolitan Council, dominated by main opposition Democratic Party members, recently announced a revised ordinance that allows all kinds of rallies at Seoul Plaza.

The council says that it is necessary to allow the free use of the Seoul Plaza to all people. Doing so guarantees the constitutional rights of the people to assemble and express their thoughts freely without restriction.

It stresses that Seoul Plaza is a symbolic place of Korean democracy and a place of peace and harmony. The plaza has been used as the citizens¡¯ place to denounce authoritarian leadership in quest for democracy in the past.

Mayor Oh Se-hoon vetoed the ordinance and the city administration opposes the move, claiming that large-scale rallies at the plaza could turn political and violent, risking the safety of pedestrians and drivers.
Also, the plaza is too close to the U.S. Embassy, so allowing rallies in the plaza is against the current law that bans gatherings within 100 meters of diplomatic institutions, it adds.

The administration also states that the plaza should be a place for citizens to relax by enjoying the vast grass area, not being disturbed by clashes and noisy rallying cries.

Regarding these concerns, the council refutes by arguing that more than 10 million Seoulites are now mature enough to know how to use public assets.

While the tension grows between both sides, a poll of 1,000 people showed that 52.9 percent back the council¡¯s decision.

Meanwhile, the city government said it will file an administrative suit against the council and the final decision is to be made by the Supreme Court.