Female cop`s solo protest

A “solo demonstration” makes no sense, at least legally. Article 2.2 of the Assembly and Demonstration Act says, “The term ‘demonstration’ means an act of a group of persons associated under a common objective parading along, or displaying their will or vigorous determination in, public places available for the free movement of the general public, such as roads, plazas, parks, etc., with the aim of exerting influence on the opinions of a large number of unspecified persons or overwhelming them.” In other words, a demonstration can be held only with two or more people. Therefore, a demonstration by one person requires no reporting to police and is not limited by the act in location.

The first official “one-person demonstration” or “lone demonstration” is believed to have been held in December 2000 by a member of the civic group People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy. This person held a picket in front of the National Tax Service after the group reported Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee’s alleged illegal succession of wealth. The person planned a protest because tax authorities showed no response but failed to carry out the demonstration since one person protesting violated the law vis-a-vis location. Eventually, the group found a loophole in the act and waged a solo demonstration. Such a protest, however, is subject to punishment if the contents of a banner or chanting violate other laws.

Lee Ji-eun, 34, an officer at the investigative reform group of the National Police Agency, held a solo protest in front of the main gate of the west office of the Daegu Prosecutors’ Office for 1.5 hours Friday. As a policewoman, she was stood out with her attire: a tight miniskirt with sunglasses. “I wore sunglasses because the sun was too strong, and I chose a miniskirt because it was my favorite piece of clothing that brings out my best look," she said. She might have wanted to maximize her presence to the media.

The purpose of the demonstration, she said, was to bring the heat on Park Dae-beom, a Daegu prosecutor who allegedly used abusive language to police officer Jeong Jae-woo at Miryang Police Station and ordered that the scope of investigation be minimized. Critics of Lee`s demonstration say police are supposed to prevent illegal demonstration yet she took to the streets. Police claim that prosecutors have refused to submit documents and summon witnesses. Prosecutors criticized Lee`s protest as a media play. If prosecutors want to blast Lee`s action, they should instead reflect on their sense of entitlement by refusing to listen to police.

Editorial Writer Kwon Sun-taek (maypole@donga.com)