The Chinese Embassy in Seoul denounced anti-China rally by conservative group Freedom-University, saying it has seen some Korean politicians spread false information and far-right groups stage frequent anti-China demonstrations in tourist areas such as Myeong-dong and Daerim-dong.
The embassy said the far-right is planning another protest in central Seoul “driven by malicious intentions and against public sentiment,” and called on the government to ensure Chinese visitors’ safety, stressing that the China–ROK strategic cooperative partnership “must succeed.”
The statement came hours after the Seoul Administrative Court suspended a police ban on anti-China expressions at the event, siding with organizers who argued the ban violated freedom of expression.
The court noted police may prohibit an assembly only within 48 hours of notice and only if it poses an unlawful threat to public order; police issued the ban on Sept. 26—nine days after the notice.
Freedom-University announced the rally on Sept. 17 for Friday, Korea’s National Foundation Day (Gaecheonjeol). Police moved to ban it, citing discrimination against a specific nationality.
The group, known for far-right activism and “China out” street chants, said in an internal notice the rally will focus on “problems with the government’s visa-free policy, the Chinese Communist regime and other social issues.”
It typically draws supporters from the conservative bloc, particularly followers of former president Yoon Suk Yeol, who was ousted after a botched martial law declaration on Dec. 3, 2024.
The protest comes as some opposition lawmakers denounce the government’s new visa-waiver for Chinese group tours that began this week. People Power Party lawmakers argued monitoring would be complicated, citing vulnerabilities exposed by a recent fire at a state-run data center in Daejeon that disrupted government systems.
“The government must postpone large-scale visa-free entry until networks are restored and identity checks and post-entry monitoring are strengthened,” Rep. Na Kyung-won wrote.
