Gwanghwamun Square under construction▶ Click here for a larger view
The Citizens’ Alliance for Economic Justice (Gyeongsilryeon), which filed a lawsuit against the restructuring project in the Gwanghwamun Square area, held a court battle with the Seoul Metropolitan Government, claiming that assembly and demonstrations were completely banned due to the enforcement of this construction, and that freedom of expression was violated.
In the first pleading held at the hearing of the 7th administrative division of the Seoul Administrative Court on the 25th (Chief Judge Kim Kook-hyun), the lawsuit attorney on the side of Gyeongsil-ryun said, “Gwanghwamun Square is used as a space for assembly and demonstration of many citizens. “I pointed out.
The litigation agent also claimed that “Gwanghwamun Square is a space that expresses public opinion,” and that “the construction has infringed on the freedom of expression and the right to the environment.”
In response, the Seoul Litigation Representative confronted that “Gyeongsil-ryeon is a civic organization, and the two who filed a lawsuit with Gyeongsil-ryon are residents living outside the area of the Gwanghwamun Square Urban Management Plan, and have no legal status to request cancellation of the construction.”
The Seoul Metropolitan Government defended that “this construction does not eliminate the Gwanghwamun Square, but is adjusted,” and “the construction is in progress in compliance with the relevant regulations.”
After confirming the positions of both sides on this day, the court decided to open a second pleading date on May 13 to begin an investigation of evidence.
Earlier, two residents near Gyeongsilryeon and Gwanghwamun Plaza filed a lawsuit against Seoul City on December 1 of last year to confirm the invalidity of the urban management plan. They argue that the Gwanghwamun Square restructuring project did not properly comply with various legal procedures, and that the people’s freedom was violated by the inability to use Gwanghwamun Square.
Earlier, in September of last year, Seoul announced plans to remove the road on the west side of Gwanghwamun Square, incorporate it into the square, and expand the road on the east side, and in November of the same year, the construction began in earnest.
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