Speakers accused the "government" of hurling police into an operation to search an office room of the organization consisting of bereaved families and civic organizations after labeling the memorial service held in last April for the victims of the ferry Sewol disaster an illegal one.

They said they would launch actions of all forms to put an end to the authorities' suppression, salvage the ferry and probe the truth about the disaster.

They declared they would hold a huge rally condemning the authorities' clampdown on June 27.