It was calculated that about 5,000 people participated in a rally condemning Japan’s discharge of contaminated water held in downtown Seoul on the 2nd. Considering that the leadership of the Democratic Party of Korea, including Representative Lee Jae-myeong, who was fasting before the rally, directly encouraged and attended, and that the Basic Income Party, the Progressive Party, and professional protest groups took the lead, some say that the contaminated water issue has lost momentum.
On this day, the three opposition parties, including the Democratic Party, held the ‘2nd National Rally to Stop Ocean Dumping of Fukushima Nuclear Contaminated Water and Condemn the Yoon Seok-yeol Government’ along with the ‘Joint Action to Stop Ocean Dumping of Radioactive Contaminated Water in Japan’ in front of the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Condemned the discharge of contaminated water and criticized the current government. This is the second consecutive large-scale weekend outdoor rally following the first on the 26th of last month.
Police believe that 5,000 to 6,000 people participated in the rally that day. At the first rally last year, it was estimated that there were 7,000 people, but the attendance gave more than that number. Even the Justice Party, which was present last week, withdrew from this rally by holding a separate party speech at a different location.
Representative Lee Jae-myeong encouraged supporters to gather to stop the dumping of contaminated water even while fasting, and also attended the event that day. Representative Lee went on stage holding a hand picket that read, ‘Condemn the Yoon Seok-yeol regime!’ and said, “If a foreign country invades the territory of the Republic of Korea and violates maritime sovereignty, the President can proudly stand up and say, ‘This is not right, stop the discharge of water.’ “Didn’t you want it?” he said. “Even though we may not have achieved the country we dreamed of, we must prevent the country from regressing to the past,” he said. “Let us prevent historical regression and the destruction of democracy and move together toward a democratic republic where the people are respected as true sovereigns.”
On the 1st, CEO Lee posted on his Facebook page, “Tomorrow, please gather together to stop the dumping of contaminated water,” and “Please join us on Sejong-daero tomorrow (2nd) at 4 p.m. “The Democratic Party, together with the people, will hold the accomplices of contaminated water dumping accountable until the end,” he said. Democratic Party members, including leadership, including Representative Lee, floor leader Park Gwang-on, Supreme Council members Park Chan-dae, Seo Young-kyo, and Jeong Cheong-rae, Secretary General메이저사이트 Cho Jung-sik, and Policy Committee Chairman Kim Min-seok also filled the seats.
The Democratic Party also issued a party-wide mobilization order prior to the rally. It is reported that on the 30th of last month, the Central Party of the Democratic Party issued an official letter in the name of Secretary-General Cho Jung-sik to the chairmen of 17 city and provincial party committees across the country ordering each regional committee to attend a large-scale outdoor rally held on Sejong-daero, Jung-gu, Seoul on Saturday, the 2nd, following last week.
Judging by the on-site photos of the rally condemning the contaminated water, the number of attendees was clearly different from the number of attendees at the ‘500,000 Teachers’ Uprising Memorial Rally’ held in front of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on the same day. The organizers estimated that 200,000 teachers gathered at this rally, and the police estimated that more than 100,000 teachers gathered.
Compared to the mad cow disease rally and the Motherland Defense rally, the number of attendees at this rally condemning contaminated water was relatively small. On June 10th, the largest number of people gathered during the candlelight vigil against mad cow disease in 2008, the police estimated 80,000 people and the organizers estimated 700,000 people gathered.
At the time of the Motherland Defense Rally, the number of attendees estimated by the People Power Party was at least 50,000. Organizers estimated that about 1.5 million people participated in the related rally held on September 28, 2019. At that time, attendees lined up for about 500 meters from Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital to Seocho Station, filling four of the eight lanes.
There was also an opinion that anti-government rallies were degenerating into ‘Lee’s bulletproof rallies’ and were not gaining support from the public.
A post pointing out this point was also posted on ’82 Cook’, a female-centered community site that supports the Democratic Party.
“The reason why the rally is not gaining firepower is because of Lee Jae-myeong’s bulletproof Democratic Party. “The people are also annoyed and don’t want to give any more effort,” he said. “I heard that Lee Jae-myung’s photo was plastered on the signature window opposing the Fukushima contaminated water. Even that signature window is promoting Lee Jae-myung, and signing a petition or going to a rally seems to certify that you are a supporter of Lee Jae-myung.” was a text.