Residents of the southern town of Seongju staged a rally in downtown Seoul, Thursday, to protest against the government's decision to deploy an advanced U.S. missile defense system in their county.

Around 2,000 residents gathered in the capital city to express their concerns about the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system.

The protesters also wore distinct blue ribbons amid concerns that anti-government activists who are not residents of Seongju would join the related rallies to instigate illegal violent protests.
Residents of the southern town of Seongju head to Seoul on chartered buses on July 21. (Yonhap)The organizers said any participant not wearing a blue ribbon will be banned from entering the area where the protest will be held.

Conservative groups supporting the THAAD deployment also plans to hold a rally nearby, with organizers vowing to hold their rally in a peaceful manner. (Yonhap)