Hannam-dong residents, businesses struggle as protests disrupt daily life

Professional- and anti-arrest protesters rally close to President Yoon Suk Yeol’s residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul, Tuesday. Yonhap

Seoul’s Hannam-dong, dwelling to President Yoon Suk Yeol’s official residence, has reworked from a preferred restaurant and cafe district for younger folks right into a protest battleground because the issuance of an arrest warrant for the president on Dec. 31, leaving close by residents and enterprise house owners grappling with the fallout.

Frequent large-scale rallies by pro- and anti-Yoon protesters have dealt a heavy blow to the world’s in any other case thriving business district, famend for its fashionable cafes, hip eating places and distinctive sights.

The inflow of protesters has introduced noise, litter and disruption, resulting in what residents describe as a “triple burden.”

Companies take extreme hit

Moon Solar-min, 25, an worker at a clothes store in Hannam-dong, expressed frustration over the affect of the protests.

“Clients usually can’t even get to our retailer as a result of many streets are blocked,” she mentioned.

Supply delays have compounded the issue.

“Garments that ought to have arrived final week nonetheless haven’t, and I’ve needed to inform clients we don’t have their sizes.” Gross sales have plummeted, with weekday income dropping from 3 million received ($2,200) to only 1 million received.

Artwork gallery employee Hwang Jung-hwan, 26, additionally reported disruptions, saying, “We’ve been flooded with calls to cancel or reschedule appointments. Some clients couldn’t attain the gallery as a result of protest individuals stopped them and requested, ‘The place are you going?’”

The protests have even pushed away the world’s typical guests. “I used to like the distinctive, quiet cafes in Hannam-dong, however the noise from the rallies has ruined its allure,” Park, a 24-year-old college scholar, mentioned. “Now, my mates and I keep away from assembly there completely.”

A back-alley in Hannam-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul, stays quiet as protests briefly pause on Tuesday. Korea Occasions picture by Heo Yoo-jung

Noise, litter, sleepless nights

The protests have additionally change into a serious headache for residents. Giant audio system blasting music and chants all through the day make it almost unattainable to carry a dialog, whereas nighttime noise disrupts sleep.

“My 4-year-old can’t sleep correctly due to the loudspeakers, even at night time,” 42-year-old Yang, a close-by resident, mentioned.

The trash from the rallies, together with instantaneous noodle cups and protest indicators, crammed streets, alleyways and comfort retailer areas.

Residents lament the stark distinction with current protests close to Yeouido, the place individuals cleaned up after themselves, incomes reward for his or her orderly conduct.

With the reissuance of the arrest warrant on Tuesday night time, the state of affairs is unlikely to enhance anytime quickly. Professional- and anti-Yoon teams have already introduced extra rallies.

Trash and protest indicators, pile up on the streets close to President Yoon Suk Yeol’s residence in Hannam-dong, Yongsan District, Seoul, Friday. Korea Occasions picture by Jeon Yoo-jin

Conservative teams plan to carry a rally in Hannam-dong at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, whereas Candlelight Motion, an anti-Yoon group, will maintain a rally at 3 p.m.

This text from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Occasions, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Occasions.