On Dec. 22 last year, the Jeon Bong-jun Struggle Team of the National Farmers' Association, which participated in the tractor demonstration, continues to confront the police near Namtaeryeong in Seocho-gu, Seoul, urging the arrest of President Yoon Suk-yeol. /Courtesy of Chosun DB

The 'Jeonbongjun Struggle Team,' an organization under the National Farmers' Union of Korea (NFU), announced plans for a tractor protest in downtown Seoul on Saturday, the 10th. This group intends to attempt its third entry into Seoul with tractors, following similar attempts in December of last year and March of this year, amid the political turmoil surrounding the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol. This protest is being held to demand the enactment of the 'Basic Law for Farmers' three weeks ahead of the presidential election. The police have prohibited the entry of tractors into Seoul, raising the possibility of physical clashes.

According to the police on the 9th, the NFU will hold a 'Beyond Namtaeryeong to a country of food sovereignty! A nationwide conference for agricultural reform to eliminate irregular agricultural policies' at 3 p.m. on the 10th at the Dongshijak area of Gwanghwamun in Seoul.

The Jeonbongjun Struggle Team has been bringing 35 tractors to Seoul from Gwangju, Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, and Chungnam since the 7th. They plan to participate in the NFU's rally in downtown Seoul on the afternoon of the 10th with their tractors.

In relation to this protest, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency confirmed that it issued a 'notification of assembly restrictions' the day before, prohibiting the entry of tractors onto roads in Seoul. Instead, the police have only allowed 20 one-ton trucks to enter Seoul. This reflects similar measures taken in March when the Seoul Administrative Court allowed only some trucks for the NFU protest.

On Mar. 26, citizens' groups including the National Farmers' Association are demanding the impeachment of President Yoon Suk-yeol while demonstrating with tractors near Gyeongbokgung Station on Line 3 in Jongno-gu, Seoul, as police officials tow the tractors. /Courtesy of Chosun DB

Previously, the Jeonbongjun Struggle Team attempted to stage a tractor protest near the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul, on December 21 last year, but the police blocked their access at Namtaeryeong in Seocho District. There was a standoff between the police and the Jeonbongjun Struggle Team until lawmakers from the opposition, including the Democratic Party of Korea, intervened, allowing 13 tractors to enter downtown Seoul after 28 hours.

On March 25, the Jeonbongjun Struggle Team gathered 30 tractors and 25 cargo trucks at Namtaeryeong. They were involved in a standoff with the police, which blocked their way into Seoul, before disbanding, though one tractor managed to circumvent and reach Gwanghwamun the following morning. During the police's attempt to tow the tractors, physical clashes occurred between the protesters and the police. This tractor protest caused significant disruptions for morning commuters along the section from Jahamun-ro Gyeongbokgung Station to Tongin Market. Clashes also erupted between the NFU supporters and supporters of former President Yoon Suk-yeol at Namtaeryeong.

There are concerns that similar physical clashes may occur in this tractor protest as well. In response to the police's prohibition on the entry of tractors into Seoul, an NFU official stated, "Ensure the right to peaceful protest," while also indicating that they are considering legal actions.

The NFU has presented '12 demands for agricultural reform and realization of food sovereignty' to the incoming government. The demands include: ▲ halting mandatory rice imports ▲ revising the Grain Management Act to ensure fair pricing ▲ strengthening the public nature of farmland ▲ guaranteeing fair pricing of agricultural products for farmers to enjoy a certain standard of living ▲ enacting the Basic Law for Farmers and the Basic Law for Food, and constitutional amendments. It is known that the Basic Law for Farmers advocated by the NFU includes provisions to guarantee farmers' rights in determining agricultural product prices, as well as rights in processing, distribution, export, and sale of agricultural products and participation in water management policies.