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BONELESS BEEF ROW (2006-2008): PART IIBeef Issue Politicized: Not about Beef at allBeef Protests Change (24 May 2008) On 24 May again an estimated 7,000 people gathered in a combined showing that was anti-FTA, anti-LMB and anti-US beef. From photos, it was interesting that the age group of the protestors was rising. Also the tendency for being more forceful with the police was seen -- and so much for a peaceful demonstration. The rallies were starting to reveal itself for what they really were in the first place -- POLITICAL rallies against the ROKUS FTA.Despite civic groups claims that these candlelight vigils were NON-POLITICAL and only dealt with health issues, the crowd on the 24th of May was more focused on the political agenda. The candlelight vigil was joined by stalwarts of such events from the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union (KTEW) and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), who had rallied separately in Youeido. Slogans opposed a whole bundle of issues, from U.S. beef imports to privatization, autonomy for secondary education, and the cross-country canal project. Gone were the cutesy "michin cow" (mad cow) signs and were replaced by Ban the Beef signs. The beef will be allowed to enter into Korea so the "mad cow" campaign is over. (SITE NOTE: We have stated all along that the teenagers were being manipulated as the real goal was the blocking of the FTA. The progressives convinced the teenagers that their health was threatened -- making it seem to be a personal crusade. It never was -- it was skillful use of the internet and slick advertising to sway the teenagers. Without the Boneless Beef entry, there would have been no FTA passage through the US Congress. However, once the beef entry was virtually assured, there was no more need for the teenagers.) The biggest change in the crowds at the Candlelight vigil was that they no longer represented teenagers. Instead, the group seemed to be more representative of the farmers groups who are battling the FTA. The group was made up of mostly those in their 20s-40s. Gone were the cutesy signs and placards denouncing the mad cow disease and Lee Myeong-bak. Though there were family groups, the bulk of the crowd were adults.  Daytime protests (NOTE: Mostly farmers groups and supporters against ROKUS FTA.) (24 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Packed Crowd (NOTE: Notice the faces of the crowd and how the age group has gone up. Faces mostly 20-40s.) (24 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Family Groups (NOTE: No longer exclusively teenagers) (24 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Mostly adults with a few kids (NOTE: No longer exclusively teenagers) (24 May 2008) (Tongil News) At the forefront of these protests from the beginning has been Kang Ki-gap, a Democratic Labor Party legislator. He won over Lee Bang-ho, the secretary general of Grand National Party, in the April elections as a dark horse candidate. Kang's win was the biggest event of the election because Kyungnam Province has long been a GNP stronghold and Lee Bang-ho was one of President Lee Myung-bak's closest aides. Thus he has become a symbol of hope for the progressives who have lost political power and whose social program gains under Roh Moo-hyun are being overturned by Lee Myeong-bak. He is seen as a David versus Goliath (Lee Myeong-bak) figure. Kang Ki-gap has worn a hanbok, the traditional Korean style of clothing, since 2004, when he became a proportional representative lawmaker for the DLP, because he did not want to forget that he is a farmer. He has also led several hunger strikes in protest against anti-farm policies of the ROKUS FTA.  Kang Ki-gap, progressive legislator (24 May 2008) (Tongil News) Another change was the return to the more aggressive protest that the Farmers' groups are noted for. This group in the photos appear to be in their 20s-30s. This is opposed to the previous teenager Candlelight vigil which were non-violent. The protestors were more ready to block the police and confront the police lines. According to police, protestors who stood behind the plaza around 9:30 p.m., when the vigil was coming to an end, shouted, "Let's go to Cheong Wa Dae!" Some 3,000 or about half of the participants slipped out of the plaza and occupied a 100-m section of the street. Police warned protestors the action was illegal and urged them to disperse. But some 300 demonstrators occupied the street until the small hours, shouting, "Down with the dictatorship!" and, "Guarantee peaceful demonstrations!" Police faced off with protestors until 4:30 a.m. on Sunday. After they were dispersed, the 300 went back to the plaza and continued to demonstrate. However, there was none of the bloody violence as seen at other anti-WTO/ROKUS FTA rallies in the past. Most of the pushing and shoving was simply to impede the police movement -- which were intended to block their movement onto the Presidential Cheong Wa Dae. Later confrontations occurred as protestors in the early morning hours of 25 May attempted to block the streets.  Protests in front of the police line (Note sign for "LMB Out") (24 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Rushing the Police line to go to Cheong Wa Dae (24 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Blocking the Police (24 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Blocking a Police van (Note the protestors even positioned a handicap person in a wheelchair to block its movement) (24 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Confronting Police line (24 May 2008) (Tongil News) Police round up 37 people for occupying streets -- draw line in face of illegal protests (24 - 25 May 2008) Police apprehended 37 people on 25 May for occupying a downtown Seoul street in protest of the government's decision to resume imports of U.S. beef despite lingering concerns over mad cow disease. They were just some of thousands of protesters who spent the night in a Jongno street after attending a candlelight vigil held the previous night, police said. The protesters attended the rally from 7 p.m. 24 May and tried to march toward the presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, hours later. Confronted by riot police in front of Cheong Wa Dae, the protesters, mostly in their 20s and 30s, took to the streets, chanting slogans opposing U.S. beef imports. Early Sunday morning (25 May), police dispersed hundreds of protesters occupying downtown streets to make way for traffic. Tens of police vehicles were mobilized to prevent protestors from taking to the streets. The Korea Confederation of Trade Unions and several other civic groups said they will organize a press conference and an ensuing rally in front of the National Police Agency on Sunday to protest the apprehension of the protesters. (Source: Yonhap News.) The police on 25 May apprehended 37 citizens, including a high school student, who are charged with occupying a downtown Seoul street and attacking riot police. The arrested high school student was released with a warning. The rest underwent questioning yesterday for suspected use of violence. Of them, 17 were undergraduate and graduate students. Police are considering seeking arrest warrants for some protestors. Throughout yesterday, street demonstrations continued to condemn the arrests. About 1,500 protesters were engaged in violent scuffles with the riot police. This was part of the rally urging the government to scrap a recent deal to resume imports of U.S. beef. In a separate confrontation, hundreds of South Korean protesters clashed with riot police during the early hours of 26 May during an illegal rally against a beef import agreement with the United States. On 25 May, police used water cannons to break up sit-in protests, which had caused gridlock in downtown Seoul. (SITE NOTE: This may have been an internet hoax picked up by the press -- and printed in three newspapers. We have not seen any photos of this and the protests were NOT violent to the point of requiring water cannons. On 2 Jun, the Korea Times reported that the police fired water cannons in the morning hours of 1 Jun for the first time since the protests against U.S. beef began.) The protesters defied our repeated calls to disperse voluntarily, continuing to block the roads by lying on the ground. We cleared the roads of everyone who resisted our orders, the police said. Supposedly riot police at the protest in downtown Seoul beat several protesters who were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. A policeman "shoved me and slammed his shield into my right side, and the pain is killing me," Cho Ik-bi, a 36-year-old businessman, told The Associated Press as he was taken to an ambulance. Police detained 32 others for questioning, the officer said. According to the Ministry of Justice, protests were initially planned as peaceful candlelight vigils, but the rallies suddenly turned violent. About 1,500 gathered yesterday in central Seoul and attempted to march toward the Blue House, illegally occupying the main streets downtown. The sporadic street marches continued throughout the night. Police picked up the last group of 32 in Sinchon early yesterday morning. Following two nights of rallies against U.S. beef on the streets of Seoul that ended with violent clashes with riot police, law enforcement authorities made clear that they will not tolerate any more illegal demonstrations. "We will not sit with folded arms regarding demonstrations that crossed the line into illegality,"Justice Minister Kim Kyung-han said on 26 May. "I have ordered prosecutors to round up not only those who initiated and led the illegal rallies but also those who instigated and pulled the strings behind the scenes." Police apprehended a total of 69 people during protests that began on 25 May and continued until early morning on 26 May. (SITE NOTE: Police on 26 May released 36 people arrested on 24 May and said it decided to investigate them without detention as they could not be seen as instigators and the degree of their involvement was low. According to the Hankyoreh News, most of these people detained were ordinary citizens. It said, "Most of the 68 people, who were taken into custody following rallies held between the late evening of May 24 and the early morning of May 26, denied the police's claims that they had participated in the demonstrations under the direction of a leader operating behind the scenes.") The 19th candlelight vigil to protest U.S. beef imports was planned in downtown Seoul in the evening, while student body presidents of 30 universities of the activist group Federation of Student Unions or Hanchongryeon began a hunger strike on 26 May. "The street demonstrations were thoroughly planned out,"said Eo Cheong-soo, police commissioner-general. "An advance team of protesters on bicycles led the demonstrators, and small groups of protesters sporadically popped up here and there, thinning police ranks." "Those participating in illegal rallies will be arrested on site if possible. We will collect evidence,"warned Eo, adding that the zero tolerance policy will remain even if it means rounding up hundreds. Despite the warnings, protests continued yesterday as the government geared up to make a formal announcement this week of the resumption of American beef imports. The Hanchongryeon held a press conference on 25 May, demanding the government renegotiate the import deal, with each council chief staging a hunger strike. 80 leaders of the group will go on a fast to express their disapproval of the imports. Students from 90 member universities are planning larger protests for 30 May, including shaving off their hair and jointly boycotting classes. "University students have always been one step ahead in every historical moment, including the 4.19 Revolution and the 5.18 Pro-Democracy Movement. We will stand up again to safeguard the sovereignty and secure the renegotiation of the deal," the association said. Gatherings on 26 May, held at various locations in Seoul, were filled with political slogans castigating the government and demanding the release of the detained. (SITE NOTE: The violent protests bear all the earmarks of the Hanchongryeon. The Hanchongryeon was in disarray in Mar 2008 when it failed to elect a student leader. This protest would mark their first attempt to reassert its presence with the use of its "storm troopers" -- usually idealistic freshmen or sophomores. These "storm troopers" are seeking to remain under the radar as when they graduate, they will have to find jobs. Thus the "shock troops" are usually the younger college students who are usually let off with a warning, but older students are considered adults and therefore, usually punished by police if arrested. What will probably be seen next is that the moderate populace -- who still support the anti-beef protest and have been a major part of the the candlelight vigils-- thus far will pull out leaving only the hardcore anti-FTA activists.) A coalition of 1,700 civic groups held a press conference yesterday and proposed a set of guidelines that the government must observe when importing U.S. beef. The activists said Seoul should renegotiate the import terms to match those used by other nations. "If Korea must resume U.S. beef imports because of diplomatic and trade ties with the United States, then only imports of boneless beef from cattle less than 20 months old should be allowed,"said Park Sang-pyo, a policy director of the Solidarity of Veterinarians for Public Health. "The government should not let its people eat parts designated as risk materials by Japan or the European Union." (SITE NOTE: The Korean Alliance Against KorUS FTA includes Hanchongryeon, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union, Tongil (Reunification) Solidarity, the Korean Peasants League, Korean Government Employees' Union, National Union of Media Workers, People's Coalition for Media Reform, People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy.) (Source: International Herald Tribune, Korea Herald, and Joongang Ilbo.) Candlelight vigil (26 May 2008) During the candlelight vigil on 26 May, there were about 5,000 people in attendance by Tongil News. Organizers claimed 20,000 came, while police estimated the crowd at 3,000. There were isolated scuffles as crowds faced-off with the police. The crowd was mainly in their 20s-30s. This marked the end of the "teenagers' beef protest" and the start of a new phase in the beef protests -- one aimed at attempting to kill the ROKUS FTA. There were calls by organizers to "obliterate" the ruling Grand National Party. Demonstrators chanted slogans such as "Lee Myung-bak out," "Down with the dictatorship" or "Oust the regime." The candlelight vigils had turned POLITICAL. It appears that the candlelight vigils are taking on the face of illegal demonstrations as groups with no ties to U.S. beef protests began to take part. In Yeouido on 24 May, members of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions who were protesting against the privatization of state-run companies and unionized teachers opposing the educational liberalization swarmed to the candlelight vigil in Cheonggye Square. Vigil participants and police are on a collision course, neither group budging an inch. Civic group members vowed to hold more rallies until the government accepts their demands. ``The government is going backwards to the military junta era, a dictatorship, to oppress our democratic ways of expressing ideas. We disapprove of that,'' a citizen in the candlelit vigil said. (SITE NOTE: The student strategy is to make this a "democracy" issue with claims of Lee Myeong-bak's "dictatorship." The image of "freedom fighter" is strong amongst the young students. The progressives see this as a means to increase their political power by claiming that they have a "mandate" from the people. Thus slogans such as "Life has become too tough, let's change the government." abound.) "Let us keep these candles, this square from police power," Kang Ki-gap, a farmer-turned-lawmaker of the Democratic Labor Party, shouted in a hoarse voice to the roaring crowd in the square alongside the Cheonggye stream that runs through downtown Seoul. Many came after school or work, waving a candle in one hand and a red sign reading "Beef Accord Invalid" in another. After police apprehended 68 protesters who illegally took to the streets over the weekend, the vigils grew in size and intensity. "As a citizen of a democratic country, I came here to correct a wrong," said Lee Bong-gyeong, 41, who came with his 9-year-old son after work. "The government struck the beef accord in a mad rush and it wasn't for the Korean people. I want my son to see how citizens in a democratic country can protest when things are not right." (SITE NOTE: Note the "freedom fighter" image stuck in the minds of many people. However, there is also evidence that "someone" is trying to manipulate the situation to inflame the people. Images of police firing water cannon at anti-F.T.A. protesters in March last year were posted on the Internet, but changed to appear as if the suppression took place this time against candlelight vigil holders. On 2 Jun, the Korea Times reported that the police fired water cannons in the morning hours of 1 Jun for the first time since the protests against U.S. beef began. Someone is deliberately trying to ignite the emotions of protesters. Seoul Metro Police's cybercrimes division identified a 32-year-old Korean-American -- whether foreign alien or citizen is unknown -- by the name of Jang as the one who recently uploaded a video that he claimed showed riot cops using water cannons and members of the infamous "White Skull Unit" cracking down on anti-US beef protesters in Gwanghwamun. The video, accompanied by an exhortation for protesters to hit the streets, actually showed scenes from anti-KORUS FTA protests in March of last year. Police plan to book Jang for defamation, but Jang moved to the United States in 1992 and has never returned to Korea. The video was uploaded in the United States.) Few expect, however, that public sentiment will calm down anytime soon. The nationwide beef protests were held simultaneously, with hundreds waving candles in provincial cities like Busan, Gwangju and Daegu. No major clashes were reported. "By mobilizing the police, the government may turn off the candles on streets," Kim Ho-gi, sociology professor at Yonsei University, said. "But it won't turn off candles in people's hearts. Their doubt and distrust on the government will intensify as long as the government uses force to solve the problem and doesn't answer the questions they want to be answered," he said. (SITE NOTE: This is the progressive academia slant that turns protests into idyllic confrontations of good (people power) versus evil (government).) (Source: Yonhap News.)  Candlelight vigil (26 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Candlelight vigil (26 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Candlelight vigil -- ex-soldiers (?) and after-work businessmen (26 May 2008) (Tongil News) (SITE NOTE: We don't understand why ex-soldiers (patch on hat) -- with nametags for easy identification -- would show up at a protest in fatigues. The girl is in a borrowed shirt as it is a couple of sizes too large.)  Candlelight vigil leg injury (27 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Candlelight vigil 57 year-old Kim Yeong-sok treated for heat exhaustion (26 May 2008) (Tongil News) The police operation against protesters was particularly intense early 26 May after the third overnight rally. Police quickly grabbed 24 of about 100 protesters in the street as the crackdown was launched at 1 a.m. Passers-by and demonstrators then reacted violently, throwing objects such as water bottles at riot police. The number of people engaged in the scuffle with police rapidly grew to 600. According to police, one man sustained a broken leg and a woman was treated for exhaustion. A team of doctors affiliated with the protesters, however, said they had to treat at least 30 people on 26 May. On 24 May, police used water cannons to break up demonstrators on a street march. (SITE NOTE: This may have been an internet hoax picked up by the press. We have not seen any photos of this and the protests were NOT violent to the point of requiring water cannons. On 2 Jun, the Korea Times reported that the police fired water cannons in the morning hours of 1 Jun for the first time since the protests against U.S. beef began.) On 26 May, police began using force against protesters without broadcasting warnings. Videos showed the police carrying protestors by arms and legs to the awaiting buses. (Source: Joongang Ilbo.) Gov't to Crack Down on Illegal, Anti-U.S. Beef Protesters (27 May 2008) The law enforcement authorities publicly pronounced that they would strictly apply the law on those who participate in the candlelight protests over the re-importation of American beef. Not only will those who employ violent means be prosecuted, but also those who simply disturb the peace by lying on the road or disobey orders from police officers to disperse. Public safety officials held an emergency meeting on 27 May, which was attended by top brass from the police agency and officials from the Labor Ministry. They agreed to get tougher on the demonstrators. The candlelight vigil began turning violent on after the 17th gathering on 24 May, when the participants first occupied a major city street. Since then, police authorities promised not to show any lenience towards acts of violence or social disturbance while continuing to protect peaceful demonstrators. Senior Cheong Wa Dae presidential secretaries, led by presidential chief of staff Yu Woo-ik, on 27 May met to draw up measures to rein in the demonstrations, which are turning increasingly violent ahead of the official notification of beef import terms, slated for later this week. The beef agreement takes effect on the date of the formal notification. During the meeting, they reaffirmed the governments stance that the right to freedom of expression and assembly through peaceful candlelight vigils must be protected, while illegal street rallies must be sternly dealt with so as to strengthen law and order. They also stressed that law enforcement authorities must focus on dealing with protest leaders who strategically and collectively orchestrate the demonstrations, while building a watertight case for their clampdown on illegal protesters. Prime Minister Han Seung-soo presided over a cabinet meeting on 27 May at the central government complex in Seoul. At the meeting, he stressed, "So far, we have made every effort to appease the public's anxiety over American beef. We forced the U.S. to make concessions and have promised to strictly enforce labeling. But the peaceful rallies have become illegal, politicized protests, which are by no means acceptable." Government agencies will also pitch to do their best to help the public understand the government's decision over the import of American beef, while showing no mercy towards illegal and violent protesters. In its first move, police subpoenaed 10 people who had organized the anti-American beef protests. They are supposed to report to the police by June 2. Should they fail to comply, the police will reportedly consider issuing warrants for their arrest. So far, police have arrested 98 people who occupied and blocked traffic on 25 May. 60 of them are still under investigation. The other 38 were released. (Source: Donga Ilbo.) "We have sent written requests to 10 people from five civic groups which initiated and organized the candlelight vigils," said an official with the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency. "We asked them to submit to questioning at the Jongno Police Precinct next Monday." The police official said the series of 20 candlelight vigils, which began on May 2, are against the law. "If we can prove they initiated the events, we will take the necessary legal action," the official said. Police sources said they have obtained photographic evidence of demonstration leaders and begun a probe to identify them. Those who posted street demonstration manuals on the Internet are also being sought. One of those summoned was Park Won-seok, an activist who leads an umbrella group called the People's Conference against Mad Cow Disease. Police accuse Park of instigating the protesters to march toward the Blue House on 24 May. (Source: Joongang Ilbo.) On the night of 27 May, about 2,000 citizens took part in a candlelight vigil in Cheonggye Plaza in central Seoul, demanding the government either scrap the import deal with the United States or renegotiate it. About 1,500 started marching onto the streets near Seoul City Hall and other major areas in central Seoul at around 9:15 p.m., causing serious traffic snarl-ups. They chanted slogans, calling for the release of the detained protesters and the nullification of the import deal. Residents of many other cities also took part in candlelight vigils yesterday, including 900 in Busan and 300 in Ulsan. Over a hundred demonstrators were detained during protests against U.S. beef imports held between the night of 27 May and morning of 28 May in central Seoul, officials said on 28 May. Police held 113 protesters for illegal acts, including obstructing traffic. Four high school students were immediately released while the remaining 109 are being questioned in nine separate police stations in Seoul. It was the highest number of detentions in the four successive days of protests. Most of the detainees voluntarily turned themselves in so as to avoid injuries and clashes with riot police. (SITE NOTE: Things are getting confusing as various papers are starting to get the dates confused. Because the candlelight vigils are on one date, but early morning arrests are on the next day, they are starting to confuse the events in their reporting. We have found conflicting dates in the reports of three newspapers so far.) Protests continue (28 May 2008) Small protests in groups of 50 - 500 were held in various locations throughout Seoul. The overnight candlelight vigil continued with about 1,500 people. Kang Ki-gap, the activist farmer legislator, headed the farmers' group against the FTA in Cheonggye Plaza in central Seoul. Student groups voiced their protest against Lee Myeong-bak. The vigil was generally peaceful, though some students took to the streets to voice their dissent. No serious injuries were reported. Even the government's gesture to modify the deal is unlikely to stop the gatherings, at least until June which is dotted with special occasions. June 3 is the 100th day of President Lee's inauguration. June 13 is the sixth anniversary of the death of two middle school girls, who were crushed to death by a U.S. armored vehicle in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, in 2002. To mourn the girls, civic groups and citizens held massive candlelit vigils, which became anti-U.S. rallies every year. June 15 is the eighth anniversary of the historic inter-Korean summit. Liberals might denounce the Lee administration for scrapping the Sunshine Policy of engaging North Korea, according to police. Anti-U.S. beef rallies are getting politicized, as protestors now denounce the government's policies other than the beef one, with some people calling for the impeachment of Lee. Since 25 May, protestors took to streets and caused traffic chaos. Police, which allowed the evening gatherings on condition of holding them ``peacefully,'' are now taking a firmer attitude toward the rallies, defining them as illegal acts threatening ``national security.'' They decided to take legal action on violations, such as occupying roads or assaulting police officers, and arrest not only the rally organizers but also participants if they disturb traffic or do not follow police orders to disperse. Between 25 May and 27 May, police detained 211 protesters, mostly in their 20s and 30s. Seventy-six have been released while 135 still remain in police custody, according to the police. (SITE NOTE: The students started a new strategy of voluntarily entering the police detention vehicles to attempt to overload the system. But it was not only the students but also ordinary citizens who filed without resistance onto the police buses. The progressive newspapers like the Hankyoreh called it a hallmark for civil disobedience -- but it was actually a very good strategy. The police were unprepared and this amounted to the increased numbers of the detainees. If this continues, the police will be swamped.) The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions also plans a separate, large-scale demonstration. The umbrella union said its members will prevent distribution of American beef by blocking the roads in front of 12 freezer stores in Gyeonggi Province, where 2,066 tons of beef products imported before the inspection was suspended last October are stored. The products are to be distributed to the market when the government applies the new rules. (Source: Korea Times.) Protests Explode on Announcement (29 May 2008) Despite snowballing public anger and dire threats by opposition lawmakers, the Lee Myung-bak administration on 29 May officially lifted its ban on imports of U.S. beef, allowing the meat to hit retail stores after an eight-month suspension. Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-chun also announced new quarantine restrictions that effectively open the Korean market to almost all types of the meat from the United States. Seoul and Washington agreed to the action on April 18. The announcement was televised live nationwide at 4 p.m. The announcement stoked public anger because of fear of mad cow disease.
   Candlelight vigil (29 May 2008) (Tongil News) As the daylight waned, there was a march of approximately a 1000-2500 people through the streets to the Seoul City Hall Plaza. Police were out in force and had already blocked off all the main avenues toward the US Embassy and Cheong Wa Dae. The end result was massive traffic congestion in the area. These protestors were all carrying red or green signs condemning Lee Myeong-bak and calling for his ousting -- and chanting anti-American slogans. Protestors gathered at plazas in front of Seoul City Hall and Cheonggae Square, both of which are in downtown Seoul, holding a candle in one hand and placards criticizing the deal in the other chanting ``Nullify the beef deal,'' ``Eat the mad cow yourself Lee Myung-bak,'' and ``Impeachment.'' (SITE NOTE: The protest has now taken the turn towards anti-Americanism as favored by the Hanchongryeon student activists -- and feared by the LMB administration. Just awaiting the explosion.)    Candlelight vigil (29 May 2008) (Tongil News) Led by an anti-Lee Myung-bak group that took to the streets around 8:30 p.m., protesters marched from Euljiro 1-ga and Gwanggyo through Jongno 2-ga and 3-ga, back to Euljiro and on to Jongno 1-ga. They eventually occupied the eight-lane avenue in front of the Gwanghwamun Post Office and attempted to enter Sejongno, which leads to Gwanghwamun. But police barricaded the street with police busses while 105 companies of altogether 9,000 police officers were stationed in the Gwanghwamun area, the largest number since the candlelight vigils started. Across the nation there were approximately 30,000 protestors on 29 May. (SITE NOTE: After the announcement that the ROK was going to announce the opening of the beef market, the anti-US Beef protests become a moot point -- there will be no renegotiations and the impacts to the FTA deliberations in the US Congress has been removed. Thus new tactics are required. The protests are strictly anti-LMB. The radical elements have to change their strategies. They will either resort to either: Candlelight Vigil and Protests (30 May 2008) Tens of thousands of angry Koreans were to stage overnight protests nationwide on 30 May against the impending resumption of U.S. beef imports, organizers said, raising tension ahead of President Lee Myung-bak's return from his overseas trip. The presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae has put its officials on 24-hour alert since the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries officially announced on Thursday that Korea would reopen its beef market to the United States. With Lee arriving here from a four-day China trip Friday night, senior officials were scrambling to calm growing public criticism of the deal. "Cheong Wa Dae placed an emergency waiting order on all staffers yesterday afternoon," a key senior official said by telephone, requesting anonymity. "Understanding that public opinion is growing increasingly negative because of the beef imports announcement, the presidential office is doing its best to come up with measures" to reduce public concerns. A Chosun Ilbo commentary said, "What is noticeable in this rally is that it is not centrally controlled. Even though there may be some groups who are leading the demonstration, they are failing to drive the people into a single direction. Most participants seem to believe misinformation on U.S. beef available online, and came out because of genuine indignation." However, some people at the Candlelight Vigil acknowledged that getting sick from the US beef was remote, but had attended because of the high-handed manner that Lee Myeong-bak had handled the affair. Lee was widely criticized for saying, ``If you don't like meat, then don't eat it.'' He was then accused of not taking the protests against the beef deal seriously. Thousands of angry Koreans seized the roads in central Seoul for the seventh day in a row late on 30 May, protesting the impending resumption of U.S. beef imports. Police estimated about 4,000 people gathered at around 7 p.m. to participate in a candlelight vigil in the park in front of Seoul City Hall, blocking traffic going from City Hall to the presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, which is within a 30-minute walk. However, from the photos there was a minimum of 10,000 protestors. However, this was far short of what organizers had hoped for. Organizers expected as many as 70,000 will participate in a candlelight vigil that started at 7 p.m. at the grass park in front of the Seoul City Hall. The protest was supposed to be the largest of the kind since Koreans started protesting against Seoul's beef accord with Washington in April, they said. "Some say it's now over, with the Agriculture Ministry having officially announced that U.S. beef imports will resume. But we don't think so," Jang Dae-hyun, spokesman for a civic coalition, People's Association for Measures Against Mad Cow Disease, said. (SITE NOTE: The disappointing turnout gives an indication that the beef issue may not be as important to the Korean people as the progressives had hoped it to be.) Across the nation approximately 40,000 protestors turned out for the rallies.  Seoul Plaza early evening (30 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Street marchers arrive (30 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Street marchers arrive (30 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. (30 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Candlelight vigil rally. (30 May 2008) (Tongil News) (SITE NOTE: Notice the different types of signs mixed together from the different activist groups that were represented.)  Hanchongryeon "storm troopers" (30 May 2008) (Tongil News) (SITE NOTE: Notice that they have taped over their nametags with green duct tape. On 29 May, they still had their nametags exposed. Also they are wearing the medical masks to disguise their identity. Though dressed in fatigues, there is no way to ascertain that they really are ex-soldiers. The display of the flag is the "freedom fighter" image that these students see themselves in. They mouthe the words of "fighting the Lee Myeong-bak dictatorship" but in truth are proponents of anarchy.)  Candlelight vigil confrontation (30 May 2008) (Tongil News) (SITE NOTE: Notice that the Hanchongryeon "storm troopers" dressed in Army fatigues are in the front ranks of the face-off. They are holding the crowd back from the police lines. A "polite" distance separates the two elements. Also note the KCTU elements in their orange vests.)  Candlelight vigil protests with police (30 May 2008) (Tongil News) (SITE NOTE: Police are only using shields to push the crowd back. No riot batons are seen indicating violence level relatively low and actions only dealing with crowd control.)  Candlelight vigil protests with police getting violent (30 May 2008) (Tongil News)  One of the injured (30 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Hanchongryeon "storm troopers" dressed in fatigues of Army Reservists (30 May 2008) (Tongil News) (SITE NOTE: The front center individual is in Marine fatigues and appears to be active duty (no hat crest) with NCO stripes and name tag untaped. Unfortunately, his hair is too long to be an active duty Marine. One thing that I wonder is what the Ministry of Defense is doing as these young men and women are bringing discredit upon the military. At the start of the Kim Young-sam administration, the ROK military pledged that it would not involve itself in politics -- including elections and political affairs. These young men are definitely involved in politics -- wearing the uniform that represents the ROK military. They are reservists until they reach about 35 years of age and must attend regular training, so still are under military jurisdiction. During video clips, these Hanchongryeon act as coordinators for the protests giving instructions to the college students. The Hanchongryeon "storm troopers" are juniors and seniors who act as coordinators. If one watches the video clips, they are always in the front lines of the confrontations and then give way when the attacks start -- as part of a programmed script. The attacks are not spontaneous. Directly behind them are the "shock troops" who are mainly freshmen and sophomores who launch the initial attacks on the police lines.)  Police Bus (30 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Police encouraging calm (30 May 2008) (Tongil News) Civic groups planned to seek a court injunction and file an appeal with the Constitutional Court to suspend the beef accord before the Seoul-Washington beef accord takes effect on Tuesday. Following the Agriculture Ministry's request, the Ministry of Public Affairs and Security said it will post the new U.S. beef import rules on the government gazette on Tuesday. "To do that we have to increase the power of our vigils," Jang said. Twenty-one farmers were arrested yesterday on their way to the Blue House. According to the Korean Peasants League, the farmers from around the nation began their protest march toward the presidential office around 2 p.m., but police quickly intervened. After a 30-minute scuffle, police took the farmers into custody.  Member of the Peasant Farmer Group protests the beef opening in Seoul (30 May 2008) (Yonhap News) Opposition parties also joined forces to file a constitutional appeal. The floor leaders of the three opposition parties -- the United Democratic Party, the Liberty Forward Party and the Democratic Labor Party -- met in the parliament and agreed to launch a joint campaign for the collective resignation of the Cabinet members under the Lee administration, party officials said. Their earlier motion to oust Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-chun was narrowly dismissed in a parliamentary vote last week. (SITE NOTE: Opposition parties jointly filed for an injunction to stop the relaxation of quarantine regulations on U.S. beef. The government is effectively allowing almost all kinds of beef to be sold in Korea. The parties also filed an administrative suit to void the revised inspection rules. The parties also took the matter to the Constitutional Court to seek a ruling on the legitimacy of the Lee administration's decision on U.S. beef. Rumors are floating around that Ag Minister Chung may be dismissed after 3 Jun, but this seems to be coming from the UDP camp.)  Opposition parties in front of National Assembly (30 May 2008) (Yonhap News) (SITE NOTE: In the meeting with floor leaders and chief policymakers at the National Assembly, DLP floor leader Kang Ki-gap said, "In spite of the public notice, the opposition parties must join forces for the government not to publish the notice by an official gazette. And they should meet with the President to withdraw the public notice." After the meeting, some 200 lawmakers and officials of the three opposition parties gathered in front of the National Assembly building to denounce the government's move to implement the resumption of U.S. beef imports. In addition, they demanded that the government renegotiate with the U.S. over sanitation standards.)  Kang Ki-gap, DLP legislator, at Candlelight Vigil (30 May 2008) (Yonhap News) Tension mounted across the country, with truck drivers boycotting the transportation of 5,300 tons of U.S. beef that are currently preserved in refrigerator containers around Seoul and in Busan. The shipment arrived in October but could not reach the Korean market after some of them were found to be breaching the previous beef accord that banned bone-in beef. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, a major umbrella union of workers nationwide, said in a statement that "all members will participate in candlelight vigils and reject the transportation of American beef so as to nullify the Seoul-Washington beef accord and demand a renegotiation." The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions staged demonstrations in front of 14 cold storages which have stocked U.S. beef. Under the accord, announced on the eve of Lee's summit with U.S. President George W. Bush, Seoul agreed to allow almost all beef cuts from U.S. cattle of all ages, except for specified risk materials from cattle aged more than 30 months old. Banned parts are tonsils, brain, tongue, eyes or part of intestines or the spinal cord marrow that are known to have the greatest risk of transmitting mad cow disease to humans. Koreans say such conditions cannot protect them against mad cow disease. Other importing countries impose far stricter rules, like Japan which sets the age limit for U.S. cattle at 20 months and bans bones. Police have so far apprehended over 210 people and indicted 180 of them for violating the assembly law. One of them was arrested for climbing onto the advertisement tower of a MacDonald's restaurant to stage a performance against U.S. beef and another man was accused of flattening the tires of a police van. (SITE NOTE: The internet crowd has started calling the arrests the "chicken cage tour" because the police buses are called "chicken coop buses" (dakjangcha). The non-violent arrests is the new student strategy to overtax the police arresting them.) (Source: Yonhap News and Joongang Ilbo.) The professors' union issued a statement, criticizing the government's lack of philosophy and willingness to take responsibility for the state of affairs. ``We think that the current situation is similar to that of June ,1987, but the government appears not to recognize this." Members of a progressive veterans' association held a press conference in front of the building of the Ministry of National Defense, urging the ministry not to serve beef from cattle suspected to be tainted by mad cow disease to soldiers. In a press conference held in Gwanghwamun, downtown Seoul, more than 20 pastors of Protestant organizations denounced the government's announcement of conditions of beef imports and began a hunger strike that will continue indefinitely. (Source: Hankyoreh News.) Candlelight vigil to continue (31 May 2008) Originally organizers estimated about 5,000 people would hold a protest rally at 4:30 p.m. to criticize the Lee Myung-bak administration for fully opening South Korea's beef market to the U.S. amid increasing public opposition to the move, organizers said. Organizers planned to hold a candlelight vigil in a plaza in front of Seoul's City Hall starting at 7:00 p.m., following a march through the streets in the downtown area of the capital. However, the turnout was much greater. The weather remained partly cloudy and cool making it an ideal day to protest. On Saturday afternoon, about 40,000 demonstrators according to the police had gathered in Seoul Plaza in front of Seoul City Hall to oppose imports of American beef and demand the government cancel its promulgation of sanitary conditions for U.S. beef imports. However, the organizers estimated it at 100,000. It was the largest number of protestors since candlelight vigils started on May 2. The main participants shifted from middle and high school students to university students, office workers, and housewives. There were many more university student bodies and leftwing organizations than during the rallies that took place over the previous week. Saturday's demonstration was by far the biggest of the 26 candlelight vigils that have occurred in recent weeks. Organizers said at least 100,000 people convened in front of Seoul City Hall, while police estimated attendance at around 40,000. This part of the protest remained largely peaceful. Families holding babies, teenagers and the elderly made up a large part of the crowd, which sang along to popular songs, the lyrics of which had been changed to include anti-U.S. beef slogans. The comments were focused no longer on the anti-beef issues, but rather on Lee Myeong-bak's style of management. "My husband will be here from work any minute," said Kim Soo-jung, a Seoul housewife who was sitting on the grass of the Seoul City Hall Plaza with her 7-year-old daughter on Saturday. "I voted for President Lee since I once thought he, as a former CEO, would do a good job, but he let all of us down." Lee Hyung-geun, a 57-year-old carpenter in Seoul, also joined the rally, something he's never done before. "I never liked former presidents like Roh Moo-hyun or Kim Dae-jung, but never in my life did I dream I would be taking to the streets for a political protest," he said. "Lee made the [beef] announcement out of the blue, without ever having talked to the people in advance. This is not the way he is supposed to do his work." Another 38-year-old Seoul resident, who only revealed his surname Kim, echoed the sentiment while his 6-year-old son sat on his lap holding a candle during what looked like a family picnic. Kim, who voted for President Lee, said he feels let down by Lee's flurry of policies over the past five months. "I don't understand why Lee did not bother to ask his people just once about it [U.S. beef], before using a food issue as a negotiation card," Kim said. Some 29,000 occupied streets from 8:15 p.m. on 31 Jun and clashed with police officers in several locations in downtown Seoul for about 12 hours until 8 a.m. on 1 June. Hundreds tried to march toward the presidential office and were forcefully dispersed by the police. Opposition legislators have also been taking to the streets to join the protests, accusing the government of striking a hasty deal with Washington for the sake of better economic ties between the two countries. The ongoing political tension over beef imports is expected to cripple the first session of South Korea's new legislature which opened on 30 May. Suspecting political forces are behind the protests, the government has been investigating the leaders of five civic groups that organized the candlelight vigils. But citizens insist that their attendance is voluntary and reflects overall public discontent with the beef deal and the Lee administration.  Afternoon Protest March (31 May 2008) (Tongil News) (SITE NOTE: Note the senior Unification activist in center in his hanbok dress. These people from Unification group, but their white with blue Korea banner missing supplanted by "LMB Out" placards. The group now call themselves, the People’s Countermeasure Council against the Full Resumption of Imports of U.S. Beef Endangered with Mad Cow Disease. They urged the government to release everyone arrested during demonstrations against U.S. beef imports in front of the headquarters of the National Police Agency on May 28.)  Afternoon Protest March (31 May 2008) (Tongil News) (SITE NOTE: Note the placard condemning Crazy Cow - Crazy LMB. Though one Hanchongryeon "storm trooper" in fatigues at lower right, the majority of people are in 30s-50s. This is the Unification group.)  Seoul Plaza at dusk -- Seoul City Hall to right; Seoul Plaza Hotel to left (31 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Seoul Plaza at dusk (31 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Seoul Plaza at night (31 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Seoul Plaza at night (31 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Seoul Plaza at night (31 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Seoul Plaza at night (31 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Seoul Plaza at night (31 May 2008) (Tongil News) As predicted, the Hanchongryeon (Federation of Student Unions) "storm troopers" dressed in fatigues were in the phalanx to confront the police. The Hanchongryeon taped over their nametags with green duct tape and wore surgical masks to prevent indentification. We also noticed that they started using green tape on apulets like in the military to denote leaders. Some protesters became violent, breaking windows of police buses while marching toward the Cheong Wa Dae. Police were also more aggressive, turning water cannon on the rioters to disperse them and deploying special operations squads. On the afternoon of 31 May, about 3,500 demonstrators occupied 10 lanes of Sejongro and Sajikro near Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul in an attempt to march toward Cheong Wa Dae. Shouting slogans such as "Stop violent suppression of demonstrations," the demonstrators protested at forceful attempts by police to disperse them the previous night. Protestors and police confronted each other at two major roads to Cheong Wa Dae near Gyeongbok Palace, central Seoul, from around 11 p.m., 31 May. As the protestors neared the presidential office, police began using the water cannon and firing extinguishers against them. An Internet radio station Radio 21, which was broadcasting the scene live, reported that a high schoolgirl received an eye injury from the water cannon and may lose her eyesight. The claim is yet to be confirmed. A candlelit rally was held Sunday evening as well, with some protestors who had participated in Saturday's overnight rally resting for a few hours near City Hall before joining up with Sunday's gathering. Officials from civic groups said that among the injured, 17 sustained serious injuries. The issues of the rallies are also going beyond the safety of the beef -- citizens denounce President Lee, chanting slogans such as ``Down with Lee Myung-bak'' and ``Go away, violent police.'' Chanting slogans criticizing the Lee Myung-bak government, they claimed trampled the will of the people, calling for measures to safeguard public health. The demonstrations stretched into early this morning. "Violent police move out!" "Lee Myung-bak step down!" protesters shouted. Other students stormed the police blockade and started to clamber upon the police buses. As the students stood on top of the buses, the police turned on the water cannons. In the crowd, students attempted to use the Korean and school flags to protect them from the spray. At other locations pepper spray (pressurized in fire extinguishers) were used. Many protestors were covered with the white powder residue from the pepper spray. In video clips, some protestors displayed the spent fire extinguishers they had "captured." The violence began when the students attempted to march on Cheong Wa Dae and were dispersed by the police using water cannons and pepper spray. At around 4 a.m on 1 Jun, police started to use water cannons as protesters continued to refuse police dispersal orders. Police also dispatched special troopers to push the demonstrators back away from the presidential office. "We had no other means but to use the water cannons as protesters were obstructing traffic and turning violent in an attempt to reach the presidential office," a police official said. "Illegal protesters and organizers of the protest will be strictly punished." The protests, which started off peacefully last month, have been turning violent as citizens appear to be growing angrier toward the Lee Myung-bak administration, which many insist chose economic benefit over public health in the recent beef deal with Washington. Nearly 10,000 riot police were deployed in central Seoul. They used water cannons, clubs and shields to disperse increasingly uncontrollable demonstrators during the protests that began at around 8:50 p.m. on 31 May and ended at around 9 a.m. on 1 June. About 100 citizens were injured while 41 riot police were wounded. (Source: Joongang Ilbo, Korea Times, Korea Herald, Tongil News and Chosun Ilbo.)  Scaling the polce buses (31 May 2008) (Tongil News)  Scaling the police buses (31 May 2008) (Tongil News) (SITE NOTE: The presence of ladders to scale the buses indicates that this was a preplanned maneuver of the students.)  Students tie onto police bus and push/pull it away (31 May 2008) (Chosun.com)  Students tie onto police bus and push/pull it away (31 May 2008) (Chosun.com)  A group of protesters against U.S. beef climb the roof of the police buses after tying them together and dragging them 50 m toward City Hall on midnight, 1 Jun in front of Gwanghwamun, downtown Seoul. (24:00/31 May 2008) (Chosun Ilbo) (SITE NOTE: The police then turned on the water cannons to force the students off the top of the vehicles.)  Students rip out bus window grill (1 Jun 2008) (Chosun.com)  Students rip out bus window grill (1 Jun 2008) (Chosun.com)  Students destroy police bus interior. White residue is from pepper spray used by police. (1 Jun 2008) (Chosun.com) (SITE NOTE: Photos showed students with fire extinguisher bottles of the pepper spray used by police. Photos also captured students trying unsuccessfully trying to set the bus on fire.)  Students destroy engine of bus (Morning 1 Jun 2008) (Hankyoreh)  Students running from pepper spray as they move towards Cheong Wa Dae (1Jun 2008) (Tongil News) (Note: This photo near Admiral Yi Sun-shin statue.)  Pepper spray turned on students (morning 1Jun 2008) (Hankyoreh News) The students were prepared for injuries and students with red cross signs for first aid were mingling in the crowd. Medics were dressed in yellow vests with a red cross on the back. Up to 100 citizens and 40 policemen were injured in the clashes, with a male citizen reportedly suffering a cerebral hemorrhage. Witnesses said many citizens were seen bleeding and limping after the clashes with police during the overnight rally, which had turned increasingly violent as protesters tried to approach the presidential office.  Students hold noses from pepper spray while medic circulates in crowd (Morning 1 Jun 2008) (Tongil News)  Medics work on a leg injury (Morning 1 Jun 2008) (Tongil News) A total of 228 protesters were hauled away by police, with the total number of detainees since the start of the protests reaching over 460. (Source: Yonhap News.)  Hanchongryeon "storm troopers" after water cannons turned on them (31 May 2008 - Morning 1 Jun 2008) (Tongil News) (SITE NOTE: Notice how the police are using their shields to block the stream of water aimed at front ranks of Hanchongryeon.)  Hanchongryeon "storm trooper" under arrest (31 May 2008) (Tongil News) (SITE NOTE: We question the Hanchongryeon use of students in military fatigues and what actions the Ministry of Defense is taking. These students -- if they are former soldiers -- are in the active reserve until they are 35 and by wearing the uniform represent the ROK military. In the Kim Young-sam administration, the military pledged that they would not become involved in politics -- but now the Hanchongryeon have clearly involved them in politics through the wear of the uniform. By doing nothing, the Ministry of Defense condones the action. We would suggest that if any are arrested by the police, that instead of going to the police lockup, the ROK Army take them into custody as they are in uniform and sort out the legalities later. ROK Army custody is something that no one wants to endure.)  Water cannons turned on students (Early morning 1 Jun 2008) (Joongang Ilbo)  Water cannons turned on students (Early morning 1 Jun 2008) (Tongil News)  Water turned on students atop bus (Early morning 1 Jun 2008) (Hankyoreh)  Police retake the top of bus (Early morning 1 Jun 2008) (Chosun.com)  Police retake top of bus (Early morning 1 Jun 2008) (Chosun.com)  Water cannons turned on students (Morning 1 Jun 2008) (Chosun.com) (SITE NOTE: Police were denounced for their ``excessive'' use of violence against ralliers, including firing a water cannon directly at protestors at close range. Dozens of injured protestors filed a lawsuit against the police.)  Water cannons turned on students (Morning 1 Jun 2008) (Tongil News)  Water cannons turned on students (Morning 1 Jun 2008) (Tongil News)  Water cannons turned on students (Morning 1 Jun 2008) (Tongil News) (SITE NOTE: Notice how some students broke out portable raincoats.)  Soaked students are arrested (Morning 1 Jun 2008) (Tongil News) But the protest gradually turned intense as night fell and thousands of participants began marching toward the Blue House, trying to push past police buses and clashing with riot police blocking their way. The police responded by shooting water cannons and bringing in heavily armed SWAT police forces. Photos and video clips of riot police beating protestors and bleeding people have been circulating on popular Internet portals, drawing thousands of angry posts. Protestors uploaded the clips through cell phones and laptops throughout the night. The detained protesters are being investigated in 20 separate police stations in Seoul on charges of violating the law on assembly and demonstration. No serious injuries were reported. But police said they hauled away over 200 protesters, raising the total number of detainees since the start of the protests to 500. The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said on 5 Jun that it will begin an investigation into a 21-year-old police corporal accused of brutality against a female protester during an operation to break up a street demonstration on 1 Jun. The corporal was accused of grabbing the victim by her hair and kicking her. While the suspect denied the charge, testimony from witnesses, including the suspect's fellow riot police officers, said otherwise. Police said disciplinary actions were taken against the corporal's superiors. In the clip, Kim grabbed the victim's hair and threw her down beside a parked police bus while dispersing protestors near Gyeongbok Palace in central Seoul around 2:30 a.m. Sunday. As she attempted to crawl under the bus, Kim kicked her in the head several times. She managed to hide beneath the bus, screaming out in pain. ``Kim admitted grabbing her hair and throwing her down, but denied kicking her. But all eyewitnesses gave the same testimony, so we acknowledged his assault,'' an NPA police officer said. The 21-year-old victim, Lee Na-rae, a student at the Seoul National University's music college, said she was hit again by another riot policeman after coming from under the bus. Police are investigating whether there was another attacker besides Kim. (Source: Joongang Ilbo and Korea Times.)  Police using shield against protestor (1 Jun 2008) (Hankyoreh) (SITE NOTE: Note fuzzed over face of minor in the photo.)  Arrest of protestor (Morning 1 Jun 2008) (Chosun Ilbo)  Police attacking protestor with shields to subdue him. (Morning 1 Jun 2008) (Chosun.com)  Injured protestor (Morning 1 Jun 2008) (Chosun.com) (NOTE: This protestor allegedly hit in the face with a shield.) Police violence during beef protests resulted in civilian injuries (Jun 2008) It has been alleged that riot police exercised a series of illegal and drastic measures in the course of cracking down on demonstrations held in front of Cheong Wa Dae on June 1-2. Many protesters were injured. Riot police used water cannons at close range, in violation of safety regulations. (SITE NOTE: Also the protestors hijacked police buses and destroyed them. They were advancing on Cheong Wa Dae -- and posed an imminent threat to the President who was in residence. Many police were hurt by rocks and other objects. A case can be made for the police side acted in self-defense or were attempting to arrest the resisting protestors.) Protests Turn Violent in Early Morning hours of 1 June (1 June 2008) After the 31 Jun Candlelight vigil, some 29,000 occupied streets from 8:15 p.m. on 31 Jun until 8 a.m. on 1 June. They clashed with police officers in several locations in downtown Seoul for about 12 hours. Hundreds who continued protesting until early morning on 1 Jun and tried to march toward the presidential office were forcefully dispersed by the police. Police blocked the streets with buses to stop protestors marching toward the presidential office, but some attempted to climb over or push over the buses. Around midnight on 31 Jun, about 9,000 protesters occupied roads near the government complex in Jongno, central Seoul, and the entrance of Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential office, chanting antigovernment slogans. Undaunted by the large-scale roundups by riot police, took to the streets in central Seoul for the ninth straight day. Riot police blocked the central Gwanghwamun area, keeping them from marching toward Cheong Wa Dae. When the demonstrators came within about 1 km of Cheong Wa Dae, police fired water cannons and tear gas at them for the first time since the protests started. Around 5 a.m. on 1 Jun, 117 police SWAT teams tried to disperse the demonstrators, arresting 228 demonstrators -- 196 men and 32 women -- who offered violent resistance. This clashes left some 100 demonstrators and 41 police officers injured. Violence marred the biggest candlelight vigils yet against opening the Korean market to U.S. beef over the weekend. Police estimate that over 40,000 people participated on 31 May, while the organizers puts the number at 100,000. The main participants shifted from middle and high school students to university students, office workers, and housewives. There were many more university student bodies and leftwing organizations than during the rallies that took place over the previous week. Some protesters went violent, breaking windows of police buses while marching toward the Cheong Wa Dae. Police were also more aggressive, turning water cannon on the rioters to disperse them and deploying special operations SWAT squads. (SEE Candlelight vigil to continue (31 May))  Peaceful March (1 Jun 2008) (Hankyoreh) More than 20,000 protestors convened again in downtown Seoul on 1 Jun during the afternoon, but the vigil remained largely peaceful as of 9 p.m. when the Candlelight vigil ended. No major incidents were reported in the dailies after the rally. Instead the dailies focused their attention on the early morning violence that occurred on 1 June. The UDP planned to hold a separate rally with some 10,000 |
