By Riyaz ul Khaliq
ISTANBUL (AA) – South Korea’s top court on Thursday ruled that a ban on rallies around the presidential residence "does not conform" to the country’s constitution.
“The ban does not conform to the Constitution,” ruled the Constitutional Court in a unanimous vote.
“It is an excessive limit that goes beyond the legislative objective,” the court observed.
South Korea had imposed a ban on rallies within a radius of 100 meters of the presidential residence – Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential office and residence of former President Moon Jae-in.
However, his successor Yoon Suk Yeol relocated the residence to Hannam-dong in the capital Seoul and works from an office in a nearby area.
“When an act or a law is ruled to be in discord with the Constitution, the law remains temporarily in effect in order to prevent confusion and to allow for a grace period for the legislative branch to come up with a replacement,” according to Yonhap News Agency.
“The grace period is designated to end on May 31, 2024.”