Protestant organizations in downtown Seoul...a once-extreme identity

Religious groups held large gatherings in downtown Seoul, causing severe traffic congestion everywhere.

The "Korean Church Union," a gathering of Protestant groups, held a three-hour joint service between Gwanghwamun and Seoul Station on Sejong-daero and between the southern end of Mapo Bridge on Yeouido for three hours from 2 p.m. today (27th).

They gathered in the city center to speak out against anti-discrimination laws and the legislation of same-sex marriage.

The rally drew more than 1 million people, estimated by the organizers, and more than 230,000 people, estimated by the police.

Traffic around the assembly site was considerably congested as the lanes in one direction of Sejong-daero and Yeouido-daero, where the assembly was held, were blocked.

Citizens who went out on holidays also suffered inconvenience as participants settled outside the assembly area.

Some entrances to subway stations at the rally site, such as Gwanghwamun Station and City Hall Station, were once blocked.

Police deployed more than 200 people, including traffic police, to respond to the crowd accident and induced one-way traffic.

In addition, 119 ambulances were deployed everywhere just in case, but there were no casualties.