On 14 August activities around the U.S. Embassy was limited to a few student activists standing with signs a few blocks away. The main elements of activists marched from Taehakro (University Avenue) to the Chunggak area near the U.S. embassy. The march was peaceful and simply a trial run for the next day's activities. There was a minor confrontation near Ehwa University between riot police and marchers, but otherwise it was a peaceful march. The theme was "no war" and the banners supported the honoring of the "6.15" agreement between South and North Korea from the 2000 summit. Prevalent were the white doves and small signs with "no war." There were an estimated 3000 participants.

Unification March from University Road to Chunggak (near Embassy) Seoul (14 Aug 03)

On the night of the 14th, there was a large Unification Concert Rally held outdoors at the Nochun Theater at Kyonghee University in Seoul. Attended mostly by student activists, it had a revolutionary theme. The skits protested the U.S. keeping the South divided. The ideas rotated around the nationalistic feelings. Approximately 3000 persons attended.

Unification Concert Outdoors Rally Seoul (14 Aug 03)

On 15 Aug, there was a march of 6200 people from progressive groups such as Federation of Korean University student Councils and Unification Network gathered at Maronier Park at Taehakro Street to protest against the U.S. and war. They marched to Jonro Street. Carrying anti-war or anti–U.S. placards or pickets, they shouted “the withdrawing of the U.S. troops stationed in Korea.” (See Voice of the People: VIDEO for Korean view of USFK military.)

The student activists argued that unification should be achieved by the cooperation between South and North Korea and by implementing the June 15 joint declaration. In the leaflets distributed to citizens, they argued that the U.S. move is escalating the tension on the Korean Peninsula.

The marchers dressed in blue t-shirts identified them as Unification activists marched in the forefront. Well-organized, the march was peaceful. The activists carried banners calling for the adoption of the "6.15" resolution from Kim Dae-jung-Kim Jong-Il's 2000 summit. The prevalent symbols were cutouts of doves or signs stating "no war." One marching group had doves wings. An interesting mobile was a towering "robot" -- "Robot Taekwon-V" -- with the worlds "no war" on its waist. Students wearing U.S. uniforms or George Bush masks cowered at its feet. Again the activists are voicing the North Korean rhetoric that the U.S. is preparing for a pre-emptive strike. Other subtle hints of anti-Americanism seen on the picture of a devil of war with ammunition strapped to its body -- and on its chin is an American flag. The nationalistic themes of "One Corea" was expressed throughout. (See Tongil News for more photos.)

Unification Rally Seoul Plaza (15 Aug 03)

At Chonggak Station about 8000-9000 people including the chairman of Democratic Labor party Kwon Yeong-gil and the head of the Unification Network Na Chang-sun commemorated Independence Day. Leftist groups including the radical student organization Hanchongryun and the Reunification Organization turned out to warn against a new war between the two Koreas. They gathered before the headquarters of the Korea First Bank in Jongno at 4 p.m.

Because a pro-USFK/anti-North Korea demonstration with 5,000 people was being held nearby in Seoul City Hall Plaza, the police mobilized 11,400 policemen and police vehicles to inspect cars passing the roads that connect City Hall, Jonggak Station and Gwanghwamun. The intent was to prevent possible confrontation of the two groups. The police confiscated materials such as a model of the U.S. president George W. Bush from being carried into the gathering site. In the process, there were conflicts between the police and participants. There was heavy traffic jam until late at night due to the gatherings.

The demonstration lasted from 1800-2300 and all USFK members were warned away from the location. At night, the gathering at the Seoul Plaza lit candles reminiscent of the candle light vigils of 2002. Skits were performed on stage that reflected the theme of "One Corea" and those with a nationalistic bent -- aimed at the American military.

“The United States should immediately stop threatening North Korea and secure peace on the Korean Peninsula,” said Jung Gwang-hoon, the representative of the reunification organization. “The United States should make a non-aggression pact with North Korea.” The participants held a candlelight funeral service for the two teenage girls who were run over by a U.S. armored vehicle last year at around 8 p.m.

There were many appearances by pop singers who sang for the peace of the two Koreas. The performances are quite good! The show stopper were the little kids in red kerchiefs like their Northern counterparts. Speeches were minimal. As the sunset, the group lit candles reminiscent of the protests of 2002. Plenty of songs and the group was having a good time. Songs revolved around "Let's Make Peace" and "One Corea." (See Voice of the People: VIDEO of performances and speeches.)

Unification Rally Seoul Plaza: Candlelit (15 Aug 03)

There was very little America-bashing except for one choreographed dance routine with a tank prop with an American flag. Pictures of the two girls killed tragically in 2002 were shown and machine gun fire sounds in the background to reinforce the image of the violent USFK. Finally with flag waving reminiscent of the old Mao-tsetung Red Guard era, the main dancer jumps atop the U.S. tank and plant the Korean flag above the American flag painted on the tank. Then they crumble the tank. Point is that Korea will be victorious over the American warmongers. The Unification flag waves in the background. Very powerful images. (See Voice of the People: VIDEO for performances.)

Unification Rally Seoul Plaza: Dance (15 Aug 03)

At the end of the songs, the demonstrators marched on the U.S. Embassy but were blocked by riot police buses. It was more of a photo-op with the large robot, "Robot Taekwon-V," used to "hand" a yellow "no war" fan to the police atop the bus -- as photographers stood by. The police buses were festooned with the yellow "no war" fans of the demonstrators and the demonstration ended peacefully. (See Voice of the People: VIDEO for ending demonstration.)

Unification Rally Seoul Plaza: End of Demonstration (15 Aug 03)

On 16 August, the focus shifted to Yongsan Garrison with a "Peace" March by about 1,500 students and activists combined to send their message to the Americans. The activists formed a human chain demanding that the United States stay out of inter-Korean matters. "We oppose the US’s war maneuvering on the Korean peninsula," chanted the demonstrators, sporting yellow peace ribbons on their wrists as they encircled the Yongsan military base. "The US must sign a non-aggression treaty [with North Korea]." The main theme of the march was that the Americans were not needed at Yongsan and more and should leave. (See Tongil News for more photos.)

The group marched to Yongsan and blocked the streets between Gate 5 and 7. Riot police ringed the base, but no violence was reported. Activists were from both conservative and progressive camps and gathered for separate events outside Yongsan on the 16th. Progressive groups, including Tongilyoundai and committees formed to denounce past "misdeeds" by U.S. forces in Korea, gathered outside Yongsan Garrison's gate number five to demand an end to Washington's "belligerence." Demonstrators said they opposed any moves by the United States that could lead to war on the Korean Peninsula.

The atmosphere seemed to mimic a 1960s peace demonstration. All that was missing was the psychedelic posters. The demonstration was peaceful with the stringing of a yellow ribbon along the trees and pinning peace dove tags to it. The riot police were confronted and taunted by the demonstrators with peace signs, but photos show them with no response. One of the best photos was girls pinning peace ribbons on the riot police. The demonstrators then shouted their "no war" slogans to the Americans of Yongsan hidden behind the walls.

Unification March to Yongsan (16 Aug 03)

On the opposite end of the spectrum, on 16 Aug a small group of Korean veterans groups gathered near Noksapyong subway station close to Yongsan garrison to denounce ``pro-North-Korean'' elements within South Korean society. The demonstrators also formed a human chain to show continued support for the U.S. military presence in Korea.

Vet Group near Yongsan (16 Aug 03)

Other Independence Day Demonstrations (15-16 Aug) To offset the anti-American/pro-North Korean activism, a Pro-USFK/Anti-North Korea rally was also held in Seoul.

Supported mainly by Veteran groups and conservative politicians, this was not widely publicized in the local press. However, the crowd was estimated at over 5000.

Between 5000-6000 members from conservative civic groups such as Free Citizens Alliance of Korea, Korea Veterans Association and Korea Freedom League gathered in front of Seoul City Hall at around 4 p.m. to protest against North Korea’s nuclear program and its leader Kim Jong-il. Then they marched to Seoul Station. The demonstrators urged Kim Jong-il to stop abusing the human rights of North Koreans and to release political prisoners immediately.

The gathering was attended by the chairman of the Grand National Party Choi Byeong-ryeol and the chairman of the National Congress of Freedom and Democracy Lee Cheol-seung. "The nation is under attack by pro-North Korea groups such as Hanchongryun and the Korea Teachers and Educational Workers Union," said Lee Chul-seung, chairman of the Korea Freedom League. "President Roh Moo-hyun should expel such groups from the country." Chairman Lee said in his speech that “the former president Kim Dae-jung destroyed the nation by denying the founding spirit and the legitimacy of this nation and followed the will of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-il.”

Some very harsh words were posted on the main platform "Bring the Traitor to Justice." The protest is over Kim Dae-jung giving money to the North for the 2000 summit scandal was depicted in some banners demanding that he be "brought to justice."

German doctor Norbert Vollertsen, who helped North Korean refugees, criticized Kim Jeong-il, saying that North Korea people’s famine was caused by Kim Jong-il`s misuse of food to maintain his dictatorship. They flew a big ad-balloon with a banner on which was written, “Let`s fight against forces that restrain the relationship between South Korea and the U.S.”

The demonstrators toppled the image of Kim Jong-Il to symbolize what happened to Saddam Hussein's statue in the Iraq War. A portrait of Kim Jong-Il was burned. The protestors attempted to burn the North Korean flag but the riot police moved in to extinguish the flames. The police had previously put out the policy that NO national flags would be burned. (NOTE: Though North Korea is a non-entity technically as the ROK doesn't recognize it as a state, the burning of the DPRK flag could cause damage to the on-going cultural exchanges.)

Anti-North Korea rally in Seoul (15 Aug 03)

An interesting result of this anti-North Korea rally was that on 18 Aug, the DPRK abruptly cancelled its participation in the World Student Games (Universiade), saying that the ROK had become too dangerous for its citizens. The semi-official Committee for Peaceful Unification of the Fatherland said in a statement that the DPRK will not take part in the games as the ROK had become a "very dangerous place" for North Koreans. It took issue with recent anti-Pyongyang rallies held by right-wing groups in the South, which the statement said were an affront to North Korea and its leader Kim Jong-Il. It accused ROK authorities of "turning a blind eye" to provocations by "extreme right wing groups." "It has become obvious that we can not send our athletes to the university games in the South which has become a dangerous place where people do harm to the safety and dignity of their own brothers," it said.

In response, on 19 Aug President Roh expressed "deep regret" over the burning of North Korean flags. According to the Korea Herald on 20 Aug, Roh told his senior staff at Cheong Wa Dae, "It was inappropriate to burn the North's flags and effigies of Chairman Kim Jong-il." "I hope this never happens again." The president also ordered the Ministry of Unification to take "appropriate actions" to prepare for North Korea before the World University Games opens tomorrow in Daegu. The government should show its regret over the incident as it did always when there was a similar act of insult on the Stars and Stripes," he said.

Political analysts said that "President Roh's expression of regret far exceeds the North's political demand." Jeon Hyun-joon, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification. In diplomacy, such an expression of regret by the chief of state is regarded as being equivalent to an apology, said Yang Moo-soo, a researcher at the Institute for Far East Studies of Kyungnam University.

Then the North reversed itself with the statement, "Although belated, the South side had to express regret, which clearly means an apology, and promise to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents," the committee said. Officials of the Daegu Universiade Organizing Committee (DUOC) considered Roh's remarks as having met the minimum requirement of North Korea's insistence that the South Korean government apologize for the burning of the flag as well as an image of North Korean leader Kim Jong-il during a protest on the Liberation Day on 15 Aug.

Roh came under immediate fire from conservative elements. According to NAPSNET on 20 Aug: "Following an apology by South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, North Korea said it would show "patriotic will and broad magnanimity" and send In a move that drew sharp criticism that he kowtowed to the DPRK." They pointed out that he had NEVER expressed regret over the burning of the American flag, but had done so for the DPRK flag -- though in his public statement he said the ROK "always" showed its regret. Only once did he show "regret" over an anti-American incident on 7 August. (See Protests: August 2003 for details.)

Lee Jun-ho, head of a conservative netizens' group, called the Democratic Alliance of Netizens, was caught burning a North Korean flag in front of the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae on 12 Aug in protest of Roh's actions. He protested that it was NOT against the constitution to burn a North Korean flag -- unlike the U.S. flag -- and refused to pay the 50,000 won fine ($48). A Seoul court suspended the fine and Lee will not have to pay the it unless he commits the same offense within the next two years. (NOTE: The National Police Agency said it had decided to ban the burning of any national flag, including North Korea's. But there is no legal ground to punish a violator. Under Korean law, North Korea is not considered an independent state. Thus, a person who burned its flag cannot be charged with affronting a national flag. The only legal ground to punish such acts would be the ban on arson during a rally. If demonstrators chose to shred, instead of burn, a North Korean flag, the police would have no ground to stop the action.)

According to the Joongang Ilbo on 20 Aug, "Conservative groups in the South rose up in denunciation of Mr. Roh's action, complaining that the president had given in to the North's pressure. "How can you compare a legal organization's burning North Korean flags in a legitimate rally with illegal groups' burning U.S. flags in unlawful demonstrations?" Kim Gu-bu, secretary-general of the Free Citizens Alliance for Korea, said yesterday. ... The opposition Grand National Party also criticized Mr. Roh fiercely, accusing him of failing to differentiate between an ally and an enemy."

The DPRK delegation arrived in Pusan on 19 Aug. (See Universiade Flap for more details.)

Other small Unification demonstrations were held throughout the country by student activists. Most involved handing out leaflets promoting the "no war" stance. Various children's activities were organized throughout the country based on the Unification theme. Other groups also held separate rallies. For example, there was also a small rally of unionists held in Seoul on 15 Aug.

On 13 Aug South Korean victims of Japanese atrocities during World War II were blocked from submitting their written declarations to relinquish Korean citizenship to Cheong Wa Dae. Several organizations of elderly citizens forced to serve as sex slaves or manual laborers by Imperial Japan in the 1940s announced their intention last month to submit the declarations to the government timed with Aug. 15 Liberation Day in protest at Seoul's lukewarm position toward their demands for proper compensation.

On 16 Aug throughout the country there were smaller gatherings of other NGO groups to demonstrate for their own personal objectives dealing with unification. For example, a small group of women supporting the Unification and removal of Americans from Yongsan gathered in a Seoul park.

Unfortunately, the news attention of the demonstration was drawn away by the massive protests in Puan over the nuclear reactor being situated on Wedo Island. The government decided on 13 Aug to provide Puan County with a special grant worth 10 billion won (US$8.49 million) for hosting the nation's first nuclear dump site. The government selected 20 priority projects to develop Puan County. The government decided to fulfill its reneged on promises, but it was too late. The movement had spread throughout Puan and encompassed citizens from all walks of life. On 13 Aug, about 500 local residents blocked the Seohae expressway along the west coast to protest the government's plan to build a nuclear waste dump on nearby Wedo islet. The residents occupied a section of the Seohae Expressway in Puan at around 4:50 p.m. On 15 Aug in Puan, the streets were painted with grafitti and large crowds in excess of 5,000 gathered to block the streets. All the roads in Puan were blocked to the vacation traffic to the tourist beaches of Kyokpo and Pyongsan. On 17 Aug over 80 people from Puan were taken into police custody Sunday after another protest. A segment of western coast highway were paralyzed in the afternoon as some 200 Puan residents demonstrated by driving their cars below 50km per hour.

Changing Face of Student Radicals An article in the Donga Ilbo on 19 Aug stated that the student movement seems to be changing in its composition of "strikers" -- the assault troops of the the radical students -- who are freshman and sophmores, while the leaders stay safely in the background are juniors and seniors. It is interesting that the recruits must have no previous record -- which will assure them probation when they get to court because of their age and record.

600 Demolition Squad Members of NUS In Activity

by Heon-Jin Lee (mungchii@donga.com)

The police said on Aug.19, “As the investigation goes ahead, it throws light upon the whole case,” and added, “We arrested Mr. Kim (27,·K University senior), leader of strikers in the National Unification Scouters (NUS) on a charge of pulling the wire behind the scene, and we are also chasing after 4 to 5 more people on same charges.

The police expects that the NUS, which is under the command of the National Students` Union on National Unification, is comprised of 3 organizations with around 200 members respectively and some of the members are involved in the raids against U.S. Army facilities in Korea including the recent ‘raid strike against USFK of Far Eastern Engineering Troops in Seoul’. The whole picture of their demonstration, revealed by the police investigation, is rather appalling.

Recruitment of Strikers

Around 9 in the morning of the D-day, five to six striker`s leaders of the NUS including Mr. Kim, immediately began to recruit new members to the demolition squad, following the direction from the interim executive conference of the Metropolitan area.

Selection points were ‘lower classes students with no criminal records and with strong commitment to struggle.’ At that time, around 200 members of the NUS were staying together at Chungang University in Seoul. The police think that seniors of the NUS such as Mr. Kim, recruited new members for the demolition squad based on personal relations. It only took 1-2 hrs to raise new members.

Mr. Kim told the younger ones, “It`s highly possible for us to get caught up by the police and taken into custody.” Still, they were willing to join the demolition squad.

As the direction indicated, 8 out of 12 arrested on that day were either freshmen or sophomores, and there was only one senior. It was different from the demonstration in last Feb, when the Federation of Korean Students illegal occupied the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea. At that time, the majority of students were juniors or seniors.

Cautious Scenario

These people moved according to a careful scenario they had prepared beforehand. At around noon that day, when given the ordered to move, they got on to cabs in 3 groups of 4 people and went to Dongguk University. There, three journalists including one from the liberal Internet media ‘Voice of People’ and a ‘guide whose name is unknown’. On the car that was heading to the USKF Shooting Range, the guide endowed them with tasks. Each members were given detailed tasks, ranging from ‘taking out the Stars and Stripes’, ‘spraying thinner onto the flag’, ‘lighting it up’, and ‘checking people who are obstructing the task’.

Eventually at 4:55p.m, they made a surprise attack on the USFK in the twinkling of an eye and ‘successfully’ accomplished the plan. It only took 7 hrs to be recruited as a demolition squad member and to carry out the task.

A police official said, “The fact that the new members blindly followed orders from their seniors despite the expected great repercussion of demonstration and even though it was taking place in a dangerous shooting range shows that they were thoroughly prepared psychologically.”

A Ready to Die Resolution

The demolition squad members wrote a resolution before going to Dongguk University that day. They wrote a resolution together on an A4 paper which was mainly about, “Those wicked American…(omitted)…I will sacrifice by self to prevent war on the Korean Peninsula and do by best to secure peace for my people.”

A police official said, “It is the first time we got this type of resolution since 2000,” and added, “I am worried that it might be a sign that student movement is becoming radical once again.”

The police is focusing on the fact that the squad members did not run away or hid their faces that they were seemingly not concerned whether they get arrested or not.

One police official said, “More facts will surface with further investigation.”

Nuclear dump sparks boycott

Almost 70 percent of elementary school students did not attend classes yesterday in Buan, North Jeolla province, as they and their parents joined in a protest against the construction of a nuclear disposal facility on Wido Island.

The Buan Educational Office said that 2,760 elementary students out of 4,043 in the area joined in the boycott. About 12 percent of middle school students did not attend classes, school administrators also said.

Most elementary and middle schools ended their classes before noon. Several schools said they would close down for the few days remaining in the month.

The educational office said it was concerned about low attendance as students with more than 74 absent days out of the 220 during the year cannot register for higher grades.

About 3,000 local residents held a protest in front of fishery cooperative fund building, saying that they would continue the school boycott until the local government withdraws the plan to build the nuclear facility. The protesters demanded Kim Jong-gyu, the local magistrate, resign.

Protesters, who were holding a candlelight demonstration on Sunday, accidentally set a fire at an office next to a government building. The Buan police said that the financial damage was estimated as 6.6 million won ($5,500).

Meanwhile, other residents seeking to end the nuclear project in Buan said that they hoped to negotiate with the government under some conditions.

"One of the most important conditions to talk with the government is that the government should correct procedural error in deciding Buan as the place to build such a facility," said Goh Young-jo, the spokesman of the committee.

"Then, we would talk with the government whether the facility is really necessary and it is as safe as the government had told us," Goh said.

by Seo Hyung-sik

"It was inappropriate to burn the North's flags and effigies of Chairman Kim Jong-il," Roh told his senior staff at Cheong Wa Dae. "I hope this never happens again." The president also ordered the Ministry of Unification to take "appropriate actions" to prepare for North Korea before the World University Games opens tomorrow in Daegu. "The government should show its regret over the incident as it did always when there was a similar act of insult on the Stars and Stripes," he said.

Political analysts say that North Korea will likely accept Roh's 'political apology' and send its athletes to the student games. "President Roh's expression of regret far exceeds the North's political demand. North Korea will accept it as a political apology and express its willingness to participate in the Universiade again," said Jeon Hyun-joon, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification. In diplomacy, such an expression of regret by the chief of state is regarded as being equivalent to an apology, said Yang Moo-soo, a researcher at the Institute for Far East Studies of Kyungnam University.

Roh Moves to Keep S-N Ties on Keel
Becomes 1st Head of State to Offer Apology to North Korea

By Kim Ki-tae
Staff Reporter

By expressing regret over the burning of North Korean flags and photos of its leader Kim Jong-il during a demonstration last Friday, President Roh Moo-hyun accepted North Korea's demand for an apology from Seoul.

Even with the indirect format of the statement, it is the first time a South Korean head of state has issued apologetic words to Pyongyang.

According to presidential watchers, the liberal president has at least three reasons for having said what no predecessor has.

First, he needs to inject life back into the Daegu Universiade simply because just about the only highlight of an otherwise low profile sporting event was Pyongyang's participation.

Second, he feels the need to bolster his resume as a liberal head of state with the intent of keeping inter-Korean relations as friendly as possible. The 57-year-old head of state has gone a long way to polish his progressive image _ talking friendly to the United States during his May trip to Washington, taking out the dirty laundry from the 2000 inter-Korean summit and dealing with pro-North Korean student activists more severely than he would have liked. In the process, he has sacrificed his political capital to follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, Kim Dae-jung, the crusader of reconciled Korean relations.

Third, Roh is looking ahead to the six-way talks designed to handle the North Korean nuclear weapons issue later this month. Frosty relations between the Koreas would likely lessen Seoul's influence during the first round of talks. However, how the North will respond and what it has in mind is, of course, another matter entirely. The exceptional comments mirror Roh's determination to talk the North back into attending the Daegu Universiade and keep up the momentum of inter-Korean relations, especially with the six-way talks in Beijing just eight days away.

During his presidential campaign, Roh vowed to basically build on the former administration's ``sunshine'' policy of engaging North Korea, with some changes in policy shown since the inauguration in February. Roh's comments triggered boisterous opposition from conservatives. The opposition Grand National Party criticized the comment in an official statement.

``Roh has kept silent on the internal ideological dispute but gave a swift answer to North Korea's demand. It is like putting the cart in front of the horse,'' party spokesman Park Jin said. However, the opposition party did not raise its criticism to the level that was expected, as the Universiade host city of Daegu would be hit hard if the North Korean delegation, a darling of the media, ends up boycotting the international sporting event. The southeastern city is one of the strongest power bases for the conservative party.

By suddenly shifting policy, Roh could not help but embarrass the Unification Ministry and his national security advisor Ra Jong-yil, both of whom a day before asserted the government would not accept the North's demand for an apology.

``Roh's administration has been criticized for blowing hot and cold during key policymaking processes. This is another example,'' a professor in Seoul said, requesting anonymity.

``Especially with inter-Korean relations, consistency and credibility are key virtues,'' he added. Concerning the sudden change in policy, some point out that there could have been behind the scenes inter-Korean consultations concerning the level of apology given.

According to sources, the government was considering various formats to placate North Korea's anger and allow the country an avenue to participate in the sporting event.

One of the cards played is known to be the president's open promise ensuring the safety of North Korea's delegation while here.

kt-kim@koreatimes.co.kr

The DPRK delegation arrived in Pusan on 19 Aug. The DPRK athletes were greeted in Taegu by more than 300 cheering South Koreans, many waving the Unification flag which represents the divided Korean peninsula. Following last year's Asian Games in Pusan, this is the second time the DPRK has sent a delegation to an international sporting event hosted by the ROK since the division of Korea in 1948. "Brothers in the South, we are happy to see you," the head of the DPRK delegation, Jon Guk-Man, said at Pusan airport. Some 300 DPRK cheerleaders, most of them women, arrived at Pusan afterwards and were also given an enthusiastic welcome by hundreds of South Koreans. (See Tongil News for DPRK Cheerleaders in action at a volleyball match, as well as South Korean unification supporters.)

The athletes' delegation was accompanied by the DPRK's International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, Jang Ung, who pledged support for a joint ROK-DPRK team at next year's Athens Olympics. Hopping on the bandwagon, the South Korean IOC pledged to work towards fielding a unified. Unfortunately, the IOC President stated on 31 Aug that though such endeavors were heartening, he had deep reservations over sporting events based on political causes.

Unification Supporters at Games (29 Aug 03)

According to Yonhap News, the security precautions infuriated South Korean photojournalists and they refused to cover a luncheon meeting hosted by Daegu Mayor Cho Hae-nyoung for the North Korean cheer squad in protest at what they termed "overzealous security." The pretty cheerleaders aged 18-22 have captured the South Korean attention with their message that "the Korean nation is one." It is a media circus wherever they go. The pool of photojournalists representing South Korea's print and broadcasting media simply laid down their cameras in front of the Inter Burgo Hotel where the lunch meeting was held.

While the security precautions seemed effective for the cheerleaders, no one expected the North Korean reporters would be accosted. On 24 Aug North Korean reporters clashed with a group of protesters demanding Pyongyang improve its human rights record in front of the Universiade Media Center (UMC) in Taegu. The reporters were returning to the UMC after covering North Korean athletes competing in the archery and diving events of the Summer Universiade when "scores" of activists waved placards saying, "Bring Down (North Korean leader) Kim Jong-il and Save North Korean Residents." A dozen protesters had been holding up pictures of emaciated children and banners denouncing DPRK leader Kim Jong-Il when they were confronted by four DPRK journalists.

According to OhMy News (translated by G.Bevers), "One North Korean reporter sees the group and strongly protests and demands, "Get them out of here immediately." The North Korean reporter then goes into media center. After about five minutes , more than 10 North Korean reporters come out of the media center and stops the press conference by getting into a violent scuffle with the human rights activists. The scuffle is finally broken up by police, but Doctor Vollertson is injured and lies on the ground for more than twenty minutes before he is taken to the hospital by an ambulance." (On SBS News, Norbert Vollertsen, a German doctor and human rights activist, said that he was kicked in the back of the head.)

More than 100 police spent about 10 minutes breaking up the melee, which spread across the press center forecourt and inside the building. The Korean National Police are being "politically conscious" in investigating the incident to ascertain who started the incident -- though indications are that the North Korean journalists instigated the confrontation. According to OhMy News, "The excited North Koreans are then herded back to the third floor of the media center, where they have been staying, by security personnel. As one North Korea reporter is going up the escalater, he says, "I strongly protest this violent display concerning North Korea. This is a blasphemy against the republic." He also said, "Publicly profaning our General like that is a provocation. Later the North Korean press corps will be holding an official press conference." A little while later outside the media center, the human rights activists requested, "Inform the whole world of this violent display of the Northern reporters. Five of our members are injured by their violent actions, which included using kicking feet, not words, to make their demands."

N. Koreans, Activists Brawl Over Banners

By JAE-SUK YOO, Associated Press Writer

DAEGU, South Korea - North Korean reporters traded punches with human rights activists Sunday as tension over the North's suspected nuclear development escalated into violence at the World University Games.

The fight erupted as the reporters tried to seize banners critical of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il from a dozen anti-North Korea (news - web sites) protesters. "Down with Kim Jong Il. Rescue our Northern brethren," one banner read.

More than 100 South Korean riot police were at the scene and helped break up the scuffle. Dozens of other uniformed and plain-clothed police officers also swarmed in as the skirmish moved from the sidewalk toward the University Games main media center.

Norbert Vollertsen, a German doctor and human rights activist, was knocked to the ground in the melee. Riot police formed a cordon around him as he lay on the ground before he was carried by stretcher to an ambulance. Vollertsen was wearing a neck brace when he arrived at the protest. His condition was not known.

"Take that away immediately," shouted one North Korean reporter, angered at the banners.

Another reporter punched a South Korean activist who hunkered down with a banner tightly wrapped in his arms. At least two other North Koreans were involved in the scuffle, which lasted almost 10 minutes with a core of young activists among the dozen or so demonstrators.

"You communists! Come here!" shouted young South Korean activists as security officials pulled the North Korean reporters into a nearby building and blocked the activists from entering.

The incident highlighted the tense relations between the two Koreas, which has escalated over the suspected development of North Korea's nuclear arsenal.

The organizers of the University Games were hoping North Korea's participation would help boost inter-Korean reconciliation in the leadup to a crucial summit in Beijing this week.

Representatives from the United States, China, Russia, Japan and the two Koreas are scheduled to meet for talks in the Chinese capital on Aug. 27-29 in a bid to ease the nuclear tension.

The Koreas were divided in 1945 and share a heavily fortified border. The 1950-53 Korean War ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty, and relations remain tense.

Anti-North Protestors (28 Aug 03)

On August 28, anti-North protestors labeled "conservative groups" gathered in Kwanghwamun to protest the North Korean reporters' attack on human rights activists in Taegu and police authorities' refusal to arrest the North Koreans. During the Kwanghwamun protest, when protesters were preparing to unfurl a North Korean flag, a plain-clothes policeman jumped up on the stage and tried to wrestle the flag from the protesters, who responded by hitting and punching the policeman. Though destroying a North Korean flag is not a crime in South Korea, the police claimed that they were trying to prevent the protecters from burning the flag (which is considered illegal under the public arson laws). However, the protesters claim that they were only planning to rip up the flag, not burn it, and that the police response was premature. The police then claimed that they seized the flag because the protesters did not report in advance that they would being using a North Korean flag in their demonstration, which they claim violates Article 14. However, the problem with this line of reasoning was that anti-American protestors burn the American flag at their rallies and no action is taken by the police.

The impression that the North's cheerleader's and band left was one of joy between the two Koreas. A televised performance of the group of singers and musicians was superbly done before an overflowing crowd. The band was decked out in uniforms that had the blue Korea signifying unification. The crowd waving unification banners responed in kind.

The 221-strong delegation, comprising 94 athletes, 103 officials and 24 journalists, departed Gimhae Airport at 11 a.m. on 1 Sep on two Koryo Air flights winding up their 13-day visit.

SEPTEMBER 2003:

Puan County Chief Beaten (8 Sep 03)

The protesters forced Kim to talk to them in front of the temple's main hall. During the conversation, the residents demanded that Kim cancel the plan to host the facility in their county. But as Kim continuously refused, scores of people suddenly fell on him and beat him all over for about 10 minutes, inflicting severe injuries on him. The worst of the attack took place at 4:20 p.m. Some plainclothes policemen and assistants of the governor tried to stop the attackers, but they were overwhelmed. Kim suffered a serious injury, but transferring him to a hospital was delayed for some time as the ambulance's arrival was delayed due to the protesting crowds. Then some angry residents overturned Kim's car and set it on fire. The number of Puan residents gathering peaked at about 700 by 5 p.m.

After the events were televised on KBS and photos appeared in the press, the public sympathy for the protest waned considerably.

Anti-War NGO Activist Groups to Oppose Troop Dispatch to Iraq According to Yonhap news on 16 Sep, a group of more than 30 NGOs threatened to "trongly protest any decision to send South Korean combat troops to Iraq." Rpresentatives of the People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD) and over 30 other progressive NGOs said they would soon stage anti-war rallies nationwide.

"Don't dispatch combat soldiers," read one placard during a rally by 50 activists near the offices of President Roh. The protestors shouted anti-US slogans as riot police and security guards formed a human barricade to stop the march some 100 meters (yards) away from the president's office. They scattered copies of a statement accusing US President George W. Bush of dragging South Korea into "a war of aggression" in Iraq.

This is in response to a U.S. request on 15 Sep by Deputy Sec of Defense Paul Wolfowitz for Seoul to send a combat troops to Iraq. Supposedly U.S. delegates who came to Seoul early last month formally asked if South Korea could dispatch "light infantry" to Iraq during their talks with officials from the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae.

The U.S has not specified the amount of troops it wants South Korea to send to Iraq but cited a 2,500-member unit from Poland as an example. There is confusion over whether it is a "Poland-style Division" or a "Brigade" or "thousands of troops." The amount of troops seem to be based on the principle that they would be able to operate independently without the help of other forces and take over fully the duties of U.S. troops in a certain region.

In the past, there was a public uproar over the sending of non-combatant troops to Iraq in April and President Roh made a questionable speech supporting the action because he was worried about the "security of Korea" -- meaning he was blackmailed into this action.

The present request is a thorny political issue and politically charged. The ROK is sharply divided between civic groups who said they would stage a mass anti-war rally in Seoul, while conservative groups urged the government to comply with the US request. The GNP has promised its support for the combat troops request. The MDP on the other hand stated that it would consider sending additional troops to Iraq as members of the U.N. peacekeepers -- which is counter to what the U.S. wants. Some "reformist" lawmakers stated that the additional dispatch of troops would not benefit the national interests, arguing the U.S.-led war on Iraq proved to be an "unjustifiable aggressive acts." In their view, the dispatch of additional troops would eventually deprive the South Koreans of their national pride and undermine the peace mood on the Korean peninsula.

According to AFP, President Roh said he was "reviewing a politically-sensitive US request for ROK combat troops to join US-led forces in Iraq." Roh "indirectly confirmed the demand had been made, but gave no further details." "This is a very sensitive issue, so we must make a very careful review," Roh told a cabinet meeting.

WTO Protest Over Opening of Ag Markets The big news out of Cancún, Mexico was the breakdown in the World Trade Organization talks, as the developing nations walked out in frustration over farm subsidies.

To protect farmers, the ROK has tariffs of over 100 percent on 142 farm products -- consumers here pay about four times US prices for rice - helping support 6 million farmers in a nation of 47 million people. At the Cancun conference, the ROK attempted to classify itself as a "developing nation" in order to allow it to maintain its tariff barriers.

Unfortunately, the ROK is a G-12 nation whose real money is made selling cars, ships and cellphones around the world. To keep markets open for its economy, the ROK has recently made concessions on food imports, in bilateral talks and in preliminary negotiations in the W.T.O. With each concession, life gets a little harder for the farmers.

However, this is not a new situation. In the late 1980s, youth fled the countryside and farms for the industrialized cities. All that remained were the older farmers and a sad comment in the 1990s was that "all there was in the countryside was graves and people waiting to get there." The youth of Korea shunned farming as one of the 3D occupations (dangerous, dirty and demeaning). Those young men who lived in the country could not find wives and imported Chinese Korean brides -- who fled the farms soon thereafter. Also the Korean populace has started eating less and less rice, thus forcing the government into a situation where its policy of "buying high and selling low" has resulted in overflowing warehouses. It has sent its surplus to the North as food aid -- much to the consternation of the U.S. who feel the food is being diverted to the military. Though there has been a concerted effort to convert to "specialized crops" it still falls short.

In the past there have been demonstrations by farmers over the farm subsidy cuts by the government. President-elect Roh in January 2003 made it plain that he felt the farmers had caused much of the problems in this area. Roh made his position clear in the first days of his administration in that he felt that the farmers had brought much of the problems upon themselves -- though the government would attempt to do what it could to alleviate their hardship. However, the government announced in March a reduction of the rice acreage as the rice consumption in Korea continues to fall.

The protests in the earlier part of the year were relatively small along with small protests from foreign workers -- many of them illegal workers -- who wished to be granted greater rights and protection when working in Korea. The farming situation continued to deteriorate. In June and July farmers staged mass demonstrations over the WTO and Fair Trade Agreement with Chile. Their were chants of "down, down WTO -- down down FTA." In desperation, the farmers took to blocking the freeways by driving slowly to publicize their plight.

On 10 Sep in Cancún, Mexico, Lee Kyung Hae in, a 55-year-old farm union leader, scaled a barricade outside a meeting of the World Trade Organization and then fatally plunged his Swiss Army knife into his heart. To most of the world, Lee's act may have seemed like a sideshow, the latest face of extreme antiglobalist protest, perhaps, just a final desperate measure by a disturbed man. Before he left for Mexico to defend ROK farmers interests, he climbed a hill behind his old apple orchard and cleaned up around his wife's tomb indicating he may have been prepared to commit suicide. However, to Korean farmers he has been treated as a martyr and hero.

According to the New York Times (James Brooke, "FARMING IS KOREAN'S LIFE AND HE ENDS IT IN DESPAIR," 09/15/03), Lee, a three-time member of the provincial assembly, was seen by the rural communities as "a heroic figure, a defender of debt-ridden farmers struggling to maintain an age-old agrarian tradition in a fast-developing country where manufacturing is king." "Lee committed suicide to save the farmers," said An Sung Hyun, 65, a neighbor. "He sacrificed himself for farmers like me." That sentiment is echoed in a new banner that greets drivers as they enter Jangsu. "The late Lee Kyung Hae, patriot and hero, we will follow your goal," it reads. "We strongly oppose W.T.O. globalization."

Iraq Troop Request Protests and President Roh President Roh indicated that the U.S. request to send troops to Iraq will be done "only when it feels confident that tensions over North Korea's nuclear weapons program will be peacefully defused." It was reported that the ROK was willing to dispatch a 5,000 man element to Iraq ON CONDITION that the dispatching additional troops, but would demand the U.S. side to delay the relocation of their forces, including the U.S. Second Division stationed in South Korea, until the North Korean nuclear crisis is resolved.

This decision raised a few eyebrows in Washington. Later he would reverse himself simply stating that a decision would be made BEFORE the October Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) held to lay out the future of the ROK-US alliance. With a flagging power base, Roh is walking a tight-rope so as to not alienate his last bastion of strength in the activist groups while at the same time not offending the U.S. in negotiations with the U.S. over possible troop reductions.
Protests over Troop Deployment The activists took to the streets on Sept 27 ending with a candlelight vigil. Yonhap News Agency reported 1,000 protestors, but others reported a higher number. However, on 27 Sep both conservative pro-troop deployment rallies and activist anti-troop deployment elements holding rallies throughout Seoul. Some believe that sending troops to Iraq would boost their country's military alliance with the United States and is vital to Korea's national security. Others say the U.S. military operations in Iraq were unjustified, and the South should not send soldiers. These protests on both sides were relatively peaceful.

The excerpt is from Base21:

Seoul, Dae-hak-no, last Saturday. Like all over the world, also in South Korea political groups planned a anti-war demonstration to protest against the occupation if Iraq, the possibility of a violent "solution" of the North Korean nuclear crisis end the end of Israeli war crimes in Palestine ( exactly 3 years before the current bloody conflict - some call it "2nd Intifada" - erupted). Early afternoon, opening rally: Only few hundred people fellowed the "Anti-war concert", given by Choen Ji-in and the You Jung-go Band. I really got upset, because of the little number of participants. But, surprisingly, an hour later more and more people - students, unionists, clerics, some foreigners, members of the migrant workers' union ETU-MB (Equality Trade Union - Migrants' Branch) and even members of the National Coalition of the Poor arrived. Speeches - strongly condemning governments crazy plans to send South Korean combat troops to Iraq, demanding the immediately withdrawal of occupation forces out off Iraq and Palestine - held by popular artists, like Lee Byung-heon, student representatives, political und union activists, like Kwon Yeong-gil (DLP) and Kim Heol-tak (Vice President of KCTU/Korean Confederation of Trade Unions) - were reacted enthusiastic by the audience, now several thousands.

After the opening rally a demonstration, headed to downtown Seoul, started and thousands - my comrade she wrote on the "anti-war" web-site something about 8.000 participators, but other voices said around 10.000 - marched and shouted slogans against the occupation of Iraq, planned dispatching of combat troops and against the war in general.

Agence France-Presse ("ROK ACTIVISTS PROTEST US REQUEST FOR TROOPS FOR IRAQ," 09/27/03) reported that ROK activists took to the streets on 27 Sept to urge the government to reject a controversial US request to send troops to Iraq and avoid becoming an "accomplice in the invasion". According to the report, about 2,000 protestors marched some three kilometers (two miles) along the street in downtown Jongro district on 27 Sept, chanting slogans and carrying banners. "US, Leave Iraq," read one banner. "Don't make young Koreans murderers," another said.

The protestors said in a statement that the US-led war on Iraq is a war of invasion which is banned under the ROK constitution. "No matter how the government may attempt to justify the dispatch of troops to Iraq, (the ROK) would be unable to avoid being named as an accomplice of the US in the invasion into Iraq," the statement said. It accused the ROK government of seeking to trade the dispatch of combat troops to Iraq for a softer US stance toward the DPRK in the stand-off over Pyongyang's nuclear drive. "Sending combat troops to a dirty war in expectation for some return would only show the moral decay of the ROK government," it said.

The protests continued on 28 Sep and was relatively peaceful. Opposition to the proposal was mounting fueled partly by an undercurrent of anti-Americanism among young or liberal South Koreans.

At the end of September, the President was facing the threats of relocation/reductions from the Security Consultative Meeting that will shape the future ROK-US relationship. As a result, Roh backed off his hardline stance of linking the talks to the nuclear crisis outcome -- but then waffled by saying it all depends on the military situation along the DMZ which any dunce can see is the same thing. He is walking a tightrope to appease his young activist political power base needed in the formation of a new reformist party. (NOTE: Roh has not joined the party as of Sept, but he has left the MDP.) He cannot afford to offend this base, but at the same time Roh is entering the SCM with a very weak hand.

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