Seoul police prohibit tractor convoy of farmers calling for Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment

South Korean police on Sunday prohibited members of Korean Peasants League from using their tractors in a protest calling on the Constitutional Court to confirm suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment.

The League had applied to have 20 tractors and 50 trucks take part in Tuesday's protest, called the Jeon Bong-jun Protest Group's Second March -- named after the late 19th-century peasant who was one of the leaders of the Donghak armed revolt against corrupt officials.

The group had planned to gather at Namtaeryeong in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul at 2 p.m., and head to Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul and take part in a peaceful protest commencing at 7 p.m. that day.

But the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said they are not allowed to use tractors and trucks for the protest, citing traffic congestion and concern for possible altercation with other protest groups.

The League said they are submitting an administrative complaint against the police decision for infringing on the freedom of assembly.

Since Yoon's Dec. 3 declaration of martial law -- for which he is undergoing criminal and impeachment trial for charges of leading an insurrection and abuse of power -- protests have occurred regularly across the country and particularly in Seoul by both people for and against his removal from office.

Korean Peasants League had driven tractors and trucks to Seoul for a similar protest Dec. 21-22 where they were also blocked by the police. It resulted in a 28-hour stand-off near Namtaeryeong pass on the outskirts of Seoul, and with them ultimately marching to Hannam-dong, Seoul, where the presidential residence is located.

Some of the protesting farmers are under investigation charged with the general obstruction of traffic, under Article 185 of the Criminal Act.

Many in the opposition have praised how during the standoff, many people flocked to the site in the middle of the night to support the farmers and show solidarity against what they said was an unfair use of the police's authority to protect the president.

On the other hand, the police have raised concern that the use of heavy machinery in such a protest can lead to violence, particularly with Yoon's supporters holding large-scale protests regularly.

"It appears that even the slightest spark could lead to a fire," a police official was quoted as saying in a recent media report, referring to their concerns about the possibility of violence amid the tense atmosphere. "A fight using machinery, not just between bodies, can lead to a seriously dangerous situation."

Some users of pro-conservative websites have written posts about responses to the tractor protests, although no specific plans have been reported to the authorities as of yet.

The farmers' late December tractor protest did not result in any violence, but the Jan. 19 mob attack on Seoul court by pro-Yoon protestors did lead to scores of injuries for both the police and civilians.