Seoul City to Stop Rallies in Facelifted Gwanghwamun Plaza

Gwanghwamun Plaza in central Seoul will reopen on Saturday after about a-year-and-eight-month overhaul, and the city is determined to keep the public space as serene as possible. 

The Seoul Metropolitan Government on Wednesday said it will not permit large-scale demonstrations in the plaza. 

Protesters often held illegal assemblies billed as "cultural events" in the old concrete square, but the city is determined to crack down on them now it has a more park-like atmosphere. 

"Gwanghwamun Plaza should be a place for rest and cultural activities for the public. We will try our best to screen out any protest gatherings," a city official said Wednesday. "Even if people seek permission for cultural events, we will examine them thoroughly and turn down any application if it is likely to turn into a protest."