[WORD_ON_THE_WEB] 'The presidential office and a personal residence can’t be treated the same'

Some conservative protesters have started rallying outside the home of former president Moon Jae-in.

President Yoon Suk-yeol commented on the matter on June 8, saying that “if people are allowed to protest in front of the presidential office, they are allowed to protest anywhere.”

Moon’s private residence is in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang, where some residents claim that they have been unable to sleep or think because of the noise.

A presidential aide stated that “the right to protest is one of the crucial rights of a democratic country” and “freedom can’t be taken away unreasonably, people are allowed the right to rally within legal boundaries."

He commented on Moon suing some of the protesters, saying that “if there were any illegal actions related to the protests, or the rally didn’t abide by the law in any way, the people involved will be legally punished as it should be.”

#justice_for_the_residents
“Are you saying that the protesters are granted the basic rights and the town residents and Moon are not?”
“The presidential office and a personal residence can’t be treated the same. Old people are living in that rural village and look at what the YouTubers are shouting in front of them... Some of the villagers are receiving treatment because they are having trouble eating.”

#crossing_the_line
“There’s a difference between rallying against the power and disturbing the powerless. This situation isn’t a simple legal dispute.”
“The people have a right to protest, but can’t we even ask them to have common sense? It’s not like the protesters are willing to listen, but couldn’t Yoon interrupt for courtesy’s sake? Yoon is making his political opponents even more hostile.”

#no_reason_to_interfere
“He’s right. People can protest in front of the presidential office. Why not in front of the private residence?”
“Why should Yoon decide whether the people are allowed to protest or not?”

BY LEE SI-YEOUNG, YOO JI-WOO [yoo.jiwoo@joongang.co.kr]