SEOUL, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- South Korea's ruling party has introduced legislation to curb anti-China slogans at public rallies, presenting it as a step against hate speech, but raising concerns that it could restrict free expression.
The bill, backed by lawmakers from President Lee Jae Myung's Democratic Party, would amend the Assembly and Demonstration Act to ban chants and banners deemed hostile toward foreign nationals. It follows demonstrations in Seoul at which protesters shouted "China Out" to oppose the government's visa-free entry policy for Chinese tourists.
The conservative People Power Party called the proposal "an attempt to weaponize hate speech laws to silence dissent." The Journalists Association of Korea warned that it could create a precedent for state control of political expression, while the civic group Citizens' Coalition for Democratic Media said it amounted to "direct interference in protest rights."
The debate reached the courts after Freedom Univ, a conservative civic group, planned a rally Friday, National Foundation Day, from Dongdaemun to Gwanghwamun Square with banners including "China Out."
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