Gov't Seeks Ban on Protests During Rush Hour

The government and ruling People Power Party on Wednesday agreed to look into banning demonstrations at night or during rush hour.

The move was prompted by complaints about an illegal overnight sit-in by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions in Seoul earlier this month that brought rush-hour traffic to a halt.

But the main opposition Minjoo Party, which has a super-majority in the National Assembly, accused the government and PPP of violating the Constitutional freedom of assembly.

The government wants to ban protests from midnight until 6 a.m. and from groups that have previously violated the law, while preventing illegal demonstrations in advance by applying more stringent screening methods.

According to law, the government has the right to ban protests if there is a clear reason to believe there is a threat to public order or smooth traffic flow. But banning protests at night would require the agreement of the main opposition party.