[Onthebarricades] KOREA protests against free trade, April-June

[Andy]

ON THE BARRICADES – Global Resistance Roundup, April-August 2008

https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/onthebarricades

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/globalresistance/



South Korea has been gripped by a months-long wave of demonstrations over 
the resumption of imports of American beef, deemed by social movements to be 
a risk of importing mad cow disease.  The beef issue is a catalyst for 
broader anger about free trade with America, the policies of the current 
conservative government and the exclusion of popular movements from power.

*  Protests have been organised nearly daily since April 18 when a deal was 
reached with America
*  Protesters have gathered for mainly night-time, candlelight vigils from 
May through to August
*  Protests are reported as growing in size to over 10,000 in mid-May
*  Farmers also protested against the free trade deal in May
*  Police escalated repression in late May-early June, arresting protesters
*  The repression triggered clashes with protesters who sought to march on 
the presidential palace and cut their way through police barricades
*  George W. Bush's visit in early June was a trigger for further protests
*  The anniversary of the June 10 transition to democracy was marked by the 
biggest protests yet, with between 80,000 and 500,000 protesting; some 
stormed a barrier
*  On June 11 worker activists blocked a major road
*  One protester has died after self-immolating
*  With protests growing, the government offered to resign and tried to 
renegotiate the trade deal

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/south-koreans-protest-us-beef/story.aspx?guid=%7B268628D5-9889-4954-8E3E-8A361A6194FD%7D&dist=msr_1

South Koreans protest U.S. beef as unsafe
Government trying to ease concerns amid flurry of Internet rumors
By Sue Chang, MarketWatch
Last update: 2:43 p.m. EDT May 10, 2008
Comments: 65
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- Protestors gathered Friday night in various 
cities across South Korea to denounce their government's decision to ease 
restrictions on U.S. beef amid widespread fears the meat could be 
contaminated with mad cow disease.
In Seoul, some 10,000 people attended a candlelight vigil, according to 
Korean media reports. Such vigils have become a popular form of protest in 
recent years.
Public fears over the safety of U.S. beef have been fueled by 
unsubstantiated Internet reports, with the South Korean government 
aggressively trying to ease such concerns.
Last week, Prime Minister Han Seung-soo told the nation that if there is the 
slightest indication U.S. beef is unsafe, the government will take immediate 
action to reinstate an import ban.
The government also released a 10-point memo last week refuting many of the 
rumors circulating via the Internet, including claims that Koreans are 
genetically more susceptible to the human form of the mad cow disease.
How President Lee Myung-bak handles the U.S. beef controversy is expected to 
be a critical litmus test of his leadership and an indication of whether he 
can achieve a balance between his pro-U.S. stance and sometimes anti-U.S. 
public opinion.
South Korea last month agreed to allow import of beef on the bone from 
cattle under 30-months-old and further relax regulations to import meat from 
cattle older than 30 months if the U.S. strengthens control on feed.
South Korea, once one of the largest markets for U.S. beef, banned its 
import in 2003 after a case of mad cow disease was discovered in the state 
of Washington. It subsequently eased regulations in 2006 to allow the import 
of boneless beef from some types of cattle.
Sue Chang is a MarketWatch reporter in San Francisco.

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200805/200805060009.html

Public Protests Grow Over U.S. Beef Imports
The Korean government has announced plans to reopen inspections of U.S. beef 
from May 15. It will be the first time in seven months for American beef to 
return to store shelves after inspections were suspended last October after 
the discovery of banned bone-in beef in shipments.
By mid-June more beef cuts which have been banned for nearly five years, 
including those with bones and from cattle over 30 months old, will enter 
the Korean market.
Seoul's announcement comes on the heels of an emergency press conference 
held by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington on Sunday in a bid 
to quell growing public fears over the safety of American beef.
Aware of discontent over the resumption of the U.S. beef trade, Under 
Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Richard Raymond gave assurances of high 
standards of safety in the butchering and packaging of beef.
"It provides for Korea's sovereign right to conduct an audit of our 
facilities and to work with U.S. Department of Agriculture inspection 
authorities if any food safety concerns are identified," Raymond said.
His comments however did little to allay escalating concerns in Korea with 
protests taking place in downtown Seoul calling on the government to call 
off the beef deal.
Echoing such sentiment, the opposition United Democratic Party stressed the 
need to fully review the government's decision and pledged to pass a law 
that can monitor and regulate U.S. beef imports.
Their statement was met by strong objections from the ruling Grand National 
Party which opposes renegotiation, saying only that it will take steps to 
ease worries and clear up any distorted perceptions among Korean consumers.
To further assure the public, the agriculture ministry plans to send four 
teams of inspectors to the U.S. later this month to verify conditions at 31 
meat processing plants approved for exports.
But the beef deal has also unnerved cattle farmers here who will be forced 
to compete with cheaper beef. In anticipation of the flood of imports prices 
of homegrown beef have plunged by almost 10 percent since the middle of 
April.

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200805/200805300018.html

Massive Protests Send Message to President Lee
Over 10,000 people gathered in downtown Seoul to protest against the 
resumption U.S. beef imports on Thursday, marking a sixth day of 
demonstrations that blocked the roads of the capital. Civic groups organized 
a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. in Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall that drew 
many university students, with the flags of major universities like Korea, 
Sungkyunkwan, and Ewha prominently visible in the crowd.
Democratic Labor Party lawmaker Kang Ki-kab said the government “ignored 
public opinion” when it decided to go ahead with the announcement of new 
import rules for beef. Demonstrators shouted slogans like, “Nullify the 
agreement, and withdraw the announcement” and “Withdraw the announcement, it 
will be judged by the people.”
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.

People shout slogans during an anti-government rally denouncing U.S. beef 
imports and President Lee Myung-bak in front of the city hall in Seoul on 
Thursday. South Korea will start quarantine inspections on U.S. beef, which 
will lead next week to a full resumption of American beef imports for the 
first time in more than four years, Seoul's farm ministry said on Thursday. 
The green banner reads, "Lee Myung-bak out". /REUTERS

Choi Bo-sig from the Chosun Ilbo’s National/Politics News Desk observed the 
protests during the past five days. Here is his account of the events:
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.
When police blocked the crowds from entering the roads on Sunday night, a 
woman in her 30s with a baby on her back asked officers if they wanted their 
children to eat U.S. beef. “I came here to protect my child,” she said. 
Around 1 a.m., five middle school students were debating whether they should 
go home or stay. “It’s not cowardly to go home now because we’re going to 
come again tomorrow,” one of the girls told the boys. This emotional 
innocence seemed impervious to logic.
For them, occupying the roads does not seem so wrong compared to the 
government’s indifference to people’s legitimate demands. The World Cup 
experience, of huge crowds going out into the streets and supporting the 
Korean national football team, also fed into this demonstration. “I love 
this country because when something happens everyone comes out into the 
streets,” one protestor said.

In this Monday May 26 file photo, a protester walks in front of an anti-U.S. 
imported beef banner in Seoul. The Korean reads: "Don't Want to Eat Mad Cow 
Disease Beef." /AP

A police officer said police are uncomfortable about having to forcefully 
disperse crowds made up of ordinary citizens -- middle and high school 
students, salarymen on their way home, women wearing high heels and 
miniskirts. “There is no channel for dialogue,” an officer complained.
It was impressive to see workers who would have to be up early the next 
morning take part until late at night. One 31-year-old office worker who 
gave his name as Kim stayed with the demonstrators until 2:30 a.m. on 
Tuesday. Kim, who voted for President Lee Myung-bak, said he knows that 
there is only a slim chance of being infected with mad cow disease from 
eating U.S. beef. “But the president did not seek any understanding from the 
citizens, and didn’t consult public opinion when so many people were 
concerned and fearful about it,” he said. “ That clearly shows what he 
thinks of the masses. He believes the people are his employees who should 
follow the decision made by the CEO of the country. I regret my vote every 
day,” Kim said. That perhaps sums up what is really in the minds of the 
people who were swarming through the heart of the capital. The government 
fatally missed it.
(englishnews at chosun.com )

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/international/americas/2008/05/29/158586/S%2E%2DKorean.htm

S. Korean police detain protesters of U.S. beef

By Kwang-tae Kim, AP
Thursday, May 29, 2008

SEOUL, South Korea -- Police detained more than 100 protesters Wednesday 
after they took part in night-time rally against a deal to allow beef 
imports from the United States.
It was the largest number taken into custody so far amid weeks of 
demonstrations that have stymied the government's plan to end restrictions 
on imports of American beef imposed over four years ago due to fears of mad 
cow disease.
A total of 113 people were apprehended and were being questioned, said a 
Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency officer. He spoke on condition of anonymity 
because he was not authorized to speak to media.
Thousands of South Koreans have held candlelight protests and street rallies 
on a near-daily basis since the April 18 deal to resume U.S. beef imports. 
Crowds have occasionally reached up to 10,000.
The protesters want the government to renegotiate the accord, which they say 
does not adequately protect the country from beef infected with mad cow 
disease.
South Korea slapped a ban on U.S. beef imports in December 2003 after the 
first U.S. case of mad cow disease was discovered in the state of 
Washington. Two more cases were later discovered.
The rallies began in early May and are largely centered on downtown Seoul. 
They have been mostly peaceful, though tensions flared this week after the 
government instructed police to take a harder line.
Protesters accuse the government of ignoring their concerns about food 
safety and acting arrogantly. Media reports and Internet rumors have fueled 
fears about the safety of U.S. beef, which both governments have repeatedly 
said poses no health risk.
The arrests Wednesday came after scuffling erupted at a rally that began 
Tuesday evening and drew some 2,000 people.
The protests have forced the government to delay the final administrative 
step necessary to allow the imports.
The latest detentions bring to 210 the number of people this week, though 68 
have been released, the police officer said.
The protests are emerging as a major headache for President Lee Myung-bak, 
who took office three months ago. Lee last week sought to reassure the 
country over the safety of U.S. beef, but failed to ease public anger. 
Critics accuse Lee, who was making a state visit to China, of making too 
many concessions on the beef issue to prompt the U.S. Congress to approve a 
bilateral free trade agreement.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/05/27/asia/beef.php

More protests and arrests in Korea over U.S. beef imports

The Associated Press
Published: May 27, 2008

SEOUL: Thousands of protesters marched through Seoul against a U.S. beef 
import pact that has renewed fears about mad cow disease. The police said 
Tuesday that 29 demonstrators were arrested after scuffling erupted.
The police estimated that 3,000 people held a candlelight vigil on Monday 
night before embarking on the march.
"Nullify the agreement," the protesters chanted as they were stopped by some 
of the 7,000 riot police officers blocking off streets.
The rally ended early Tuesday morning as the police dispersed the 
protesters, leading to clashes but no serious injuries, officials said.
Twenty-nine protesters were detained, according to a police official, who 
spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk with 
the media.
The latest arrests came hours after the police freed 36 out of 68 
demonstrators detained at separate, related rallies on Sunday. Thousands of 
South Koreans have held similar vigils and street rallies on a near daily 
basis against the April 18 deal to resume U.S. beef imports.
The protests are one of the biggest domestic challenges faced so far by 
President Lee Myung Bak, who took office three months ago. Lee sought to 
reassure the country over the safety of U.S. beef last week but failed to 
ease public anger.
Lee, who was scheduled to leave Tuesday for a visit to China, has been 
criticized for making too many concessions on the beef issue to prompt the 
U.S. Congress to approve a free trade agreement. South Korea and the United 
States agreed to the accord last year to cut tariffs and other trade 
barriers, but the deal must still be endorsed.
South Korea suspended U.S. beef imports after the first American case of mad 
cow disease appeared in December 2003 in a Canadian-born cow in Washington 
State. Three cases have been discovered in the United States.
After protracted negotiations, restricted imports of U.S. beef reached South 
Korean supermarkets last year, but further shipments were canceled in 
October after banned parts, such as bones, were found. The new beef 
agreement scrapped nearly all the quarantine restrictions imposed by the 
previous government.
Scientists believe that mad cow disease, or bovine spongiform 
encephalopathy, spreads when farmers feed cattle with recycled meat and 
bones from infected animals. In humans, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare 
and fatal malady, is linked to eating contaminated meat.

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200805/200805230022.html

Farmers in Massive Protests Against FTA With U.S.
Downtown Seoul saw massive demonstrations by farmers against the Korea-U.S. 
free trade agreement and import of U.S. beef on Thursday. Some 8,000 farmers 
from 42 groups nationwide including the Hanwoo Association gathered at 2 
p.m. in Yeouido Park, near the National Assembly.
These farmers came to Seoul from all corners of the country on over 200 
buses. These buses parked randomly near the park, and caused extreme traffic 
jam around Yeouido. The participants sat in rows and shouted, “Do not pass 
the FTA bill” and “No U.S. Beef to Korea.”

More than 8,000 farmers gather in Yeouido Park on Thursday afternoon to 
protest against the reopening of the Korean market to the U.S. beef. /Yonhap

A farmer who gave his name as Kim (64) and had come from Gimcheon, North 
Gyeongsang Province, said, “I have to plant rice tomorrow: May is a very 
busy month for farmers and we actually have no time for this. But my 
colleagues and I had to come because we felt so distressed by the 
 situation.” “We got onboard at 7 a.m. and it took us five hours to get 
here.” A livestock farmer who identified himself as Lee (63) flew in from 
Jeju Island. “I have raised cattle and pigs for 35 years, and this is my 
first time coming out to a demonstration,” he said. “I have made W50 million 
of losses in just five months because the price of animal feed skyrocketed 
(US$1=W1,044).”
The farmers argue that the government failed to take steps to protect them 
while pushing for the FTA with the United States. Another farmer also named 
Kim (68), who cultivates rice on 20,000 sq.m. of land in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi 
Province, stressed that farmers do not always oppose FTAs. However, he 
emphasized that the government should have taken thorough protective 
measures for farmers and given them some time to prepare. “The National 
Assembly should not push the ratification through before measures to provide 
support to affected farmers have been devised,” he added.
Police dispatched 74 companies of altogether 7,000 officers to Yeouido 
around the National Assembly and the Yeouido Park. The demonstration ended 
without any clashes around 5 p.m. Afterwards, some 800 farmers moved to the 
Cheonggye Plaza to join a candlelight vigil in opposition to the import of 
U.S. beef.

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200805/200805270016.html

Beef Protestors Continue Occupations

A student shouts slogan during an anti-U.S. imported beef rally against a 
beef import agreement with the United States in Seoul, South Korea on 
Monday. The Korean read " Null Agreement."/AP

Candlelight vigils against import of U.S. beef are turning into illegal 
occupations. For the third consecutive day, protesters on Monday occupied 
the streets and shouted anti-government slogans like “Impeach Lee Myung-bak” 
and “Life has become too tough, let’s change the government.”
Police on Monday released 36 people arrested on Saturday 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.
Some 3,000 people who took part in the candlelight vigil in the Cheonggye 
Plaza on Monday took to the Euljiro boulevard around 9:50 p.m. after the 
vigil ended and marched to Jongno 2-ga. They occupied the road until after 
midnight and confronted the police. Police mobilized 80 companies of 
altogether over 7,000 officers but did not use force to prevent protesters 
moving into the road.
The demonstrators were demanding the release of some 60 people who had been 
detained on Sunday and a halt to the import of U.S. beef. Leaflets and 
banners with anti-government slogans such as “Join in the revolt!” 
circulated in Cheonggye Plaza. As the candlelight vigils turn illegal, Eo 
Cheong-soo, commissioner general of the Korean National Police Agency, said 
demonstrators who committed illegalities will be tracked down and punished.

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200805/200805150022.html

Continuing Beef Protests Draw 6,000
Some 6,000 people gathered in the Seoul Plaza in front of the City Hall on 
Wednesday afternoon for a candlelight vigil protesting the import of U.S. 
beef. The event was organized by over 1,700 civic groups and online clubs 
including stalwarts of such events like People’s Solidarity for 
Participatory Democracy and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU).

Thousands of protesters participate in a candle rally in front of City Hall 
against a recent South Korea-U.S. agreement on the expansion of U.S. beef 
imports on Wednesday. /AP

Protestors cheered the government’s decision to delay the official 
announcement of new sanitary conditions for U.S. beef imports for seven to 
10 days, with organizers saying “the passion of citizens” achieved half a 
victory already over the government. They vowed to continue protests until 
the government decides to renegotiate with the U.S. from scratch.

http://www.cattlenetwork.com/Cattle_Processing_Content.asp?ContentID=224273

5/26/2008 6:39:00 AM
S Korean Police Detain 68 Protesters Over US Beef Rally

SEOUL (AFP) — Sixty-eight protesters have been detained after participating 
in street demonstrations against South Korea's decision to resume imports of 
US beef, police said Monday.

Police said 37 people were taken into custody Sunday over an illegal 
anti-government demonstration following a candle-lit vigil in central Seoul.

Another 31 people were detained early Monday when police blocked hundreds of 
demonstrators from marching towards the office of President Lee Myung-Bak.

Thousands of South Koreans have been staging rallies over the past few 
weeks. They say the government has not secured enough safeguards against the 
dangers posed by the human form of mad cow disease.

The government dismisses the critics' claims as groundless, defending the 
resumption of imports as a catalyst for a US-South Korean free trade deal to 
be ratified in the US Congress.

Lee apologized last week for failing to ease "mad cow" fears but urged 
legislators to quickly pass the free trade deal.

South Korean Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-Chun is expected to announce 
the resumption of US beef imports on Tuesday.

http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2008/200805/news05/30.htm#12

Suppression of Protest Struggles Criticized in S. Korea
   Pyongyang, May 29 (KCNA) -- Members of political parties and civic 
organizations in south Korea, including the Democratic Labor Party and the 
People's Measure Council against the Total Opening of south Korean Market to 
American Beef, called a press conference in Seoul on May 26 to condemn the 
security authorities for having mobilized fully-armed riot policemen to 
indiscriminately repress the candle-light struggle against the import of 
American beef.
    Speakers at the press conference said that the present situation reminds 
one of the June popular resistance 21 years ago.
    They stated that the Lee Myung Bak regime is mistaken if it expects that 
a second June popular resistance will not take place.
    A press release read out at the conference urged Lee Myung Bak to lend 
an ear to the voice of the people and behave himself.
    Meanwhile, the south Korean Federation of University Student Councils 
called a press conference in front of Yonsei University in Seoul on the same 
day, demanding that the "government" come out for renegotiations on the 
import of American beef.
    The federation declared that 30 student organizations under it would go 
on a hunger strike in demand of the renegotiations.

http://rss.xinhuanet.com/newsc/english/2008-06/01/content_8294524.htm

Anti-U.S. beef protests continue despite crackdown

A woman holds a candle during an anti-government rally demanding the 
renegotiation of the beef deal with U.S., in front of the city hall in Seoul 
May 30, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Photo Gallery>>>

    SEOUL, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Organizers said thousands of South Koreans 
were to hold another massive protest in downtown Seoul Sunday against the 
impending resumption of U.S. beef imports despite the police crackdown, 
Yonhap news agency reported.
    About 40,000 people gathered in front of City Hall Saturday for the 
largest rally since candlelight vigils started in early May.

Protester hold banners criticizing the U.S. beef import deal, which they 
insist is infected with mad cow disease, at a rally in Seoul May 9, 
2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Photo Gallery>>>

    Hundreds who continued protesting until early Sunday morning and tried 
to march toward the presidential office were forcefully dispersed by the 
police.
    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, Yonhap said.
    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.
    On April 18, Seoul agreed to permit imports of all beef regardless of 
the age of cattle, except for high-risk parts such as tonsils, brains and 
spinal cords, for the first time in almost five years.
    It had banned imports in 2003 following the first U.S. case of mad cow 
disease.
    Although the South Korean government has been assuring the public that 
U.S. beef is safe to eat, concerns have been growing following some 
sensational media reports and opponent parties' move to use the deal as 
political leverage against the newly launched government.
    Anger has intensified since Thursday when the government started a legal 
process to put the new import terms into effect. Imports are expected to 
resume as early as this month.
    President Lee, who won the December election in a landslide, has been 
suffering from dwindling popularity of below 30 percent amid the beef 
dispute.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific_business/view/351186/1/.html

228 arrested as South Korean beef protesters clash with police
Posted: 01 June 2008 1153 hrs
Riot policemen blast water at protesters

SEOUL - Nearly 230 people were arrested early on Sunday as thousands of 
hardcore South Korean protesters rallying against moves to resume US beef 
imports fought running battles with police.

Riot police carrying shields used water canon and scuffled with angry 
demonstrators as they broke up an attempt to march on the presidential 
office overnight, detaining 228.

The clashes followed mass protests late on Saturday when some 20,000 people 
joined a candle-lit vigil against the government's decision to import US 
beef again after an initial ban in 2003 over mad cow fears.

"Police have taken 228 people into custody, and they are subject to 
interrogation for possible punishment," a Seoul police spokesman told AFP.

No serious injuries were reported despite the display of force against 
thousands of unruly protesters who chanted, "Down with President Lee 
Myung-Bak," as they confronted thousands of riot police.

Seoul agreed in April to lift its intermittent ban on US beef imports, which 
was first imposed in December 2003 over mad cow disease.

But opponents claim the government has not secured safeguards against the 
alleged dangers posed by the human form of the illness.

The resumption of US beef imports was a pre-condition for Washington's 
approval of a free trade agreement with South Korea, which some analysts say 
could boost annual trade between the two nations by 20 billion dollars.

However, South Korea's parliament failed to ratify the free trade deal 
before the legislature's four-year term expired Thursday.

Protests have snowballed in recent days culminating in Saturday's gathering, 
where demonstrators carried banners demanding the resignation of President 
Lee.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said Saturday's demonstration was the 
largest since mass candlelit protests began a week earlier in Seoul and 
several other cities across the country.

The demonstrations intensified as Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-Chun on 
Thursday unveiled new rules on imports and for the inspection of US beef, 
which is expected to go on sale here in the week ahead. - AFP/ir

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200806/200806030022.html

Core Protestors Brave Heavy Rain
Despite heavy rain, demonstrations against the import of U.S. beef went 
ahead on Monday evening in downtown Seoul. Because of bad weather, police 
estimate only some 1,500 people gathered in the Seoul Plaza, or 3,000 
according to the organizers. Demonstrators assembled as usual in Seoul Plaza 
and from there marched to Gwanghwamun at around 8:30 p.m. They continued to 
Jongno 1-ga, Euljiro, Sungnyemun, and returned to the Seoul Plaza, 
voluntarily dispersing at around 10 p.m. Police outnumbered protestors, 
deploying 50 companies of altogether more than 4,000 officers.

Korean students and residents hold a candlelight vigil in the Place du 
Trocadero in Paris on Sunday afternoon. /Yonhap

Meanwhile, overseas Koreans in Paris, Berlin, and Auckland, New Zealand, 
also organized candlelight vigils. Some 150 Koreans studying or living in 
Paris gathered in the Place du Trocadero across from the Eiffel Tower for 
two hours. The protesters held banners with slogans such as “We protest the 
import of U.S. beef,” and “Way to go, protesters in Korea” and denounced the 
Korean police for using water cannon at demonstrators. They also voiced 
opposition to the Grand Canal project of the Lee Myung-bak administration.
About 80 Koreans came out to the Breitscheidplatz in downtown Berlin. About 
200 Koreans braved the rain at a rally in front of the Aotea Centre in 
Auckland, criticizing the Lee Myung-bak administration and calling for a 
stop to the import of U.S. beef.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific_business/view/351365/1/.html

200 South Korean beef protesters arrested in new clashes with police
Posted: 02 June 2008 1557 hrs

Photos 2 of 2


A protester at a rally against the South Korean government's plan to resume 
importing US beef

Related News

• 228 arrested as South Korean beef protesters clash with police

• Candle-lit protest against US beef imports intensifies in Seoul

• South Korean opposition threatens court action against US beef

• SKorea resumes US beef imports as protesters vow to continue with rallies

• SKorea's parliament dissolves, fails to ratify US trade deal

SEOUL: South Korean police detained 70 anti-US beef protesters in fresh 
clashes early on Monday, taking the total arrested to more than 500 in days 
of intensifying rallies.

Shield-carrying riot police set off hand-held fire extinguishers to disperse 
thousands of protesters for the second night running after similar scenes 
late on Saturday and Sunday morning.

Daily protests escalated over the weekend with tens of thousands joining a 
candlelit vigil on Saturday which degenerated into violence as thousands of 
hardcore activists tried to march on the presidential office.

A Seoul police spokesman told AFP the latest arrests brought the total 
number of arrests to 545 since May 24.

Police have released 224 protesters and brought 21 to a summary court for 
violence offences, with the rest under interrogation. No serious injuries 
have been reported.

Seoul agreed in April to lift its intermittent ban on US beef imports, which 
was first imposed in December 2003 over mad cow disease. American beef is 
expected to go on sale here this or next week.

But opponents claim the government has not secured safeguards against the 
alleged dangers posed by the human form of the illness.

The resumption of US beef imports was a pre-condition for Washington's 
approval of a free trade agreement with South Korea, which some analysts say 
could boost annual trade between the two nations by 20 billion US dollars.

However, South Korea's parliament failed to ratify the free trade deal 
before the legislature's four-year term expired Thursday.

The demonstrations grew on Thursday as Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-Chun 
unveiled new rules on imports and for the inspection of US beef. - AFP/ac

http://rss.xinhuanet.com/newsc/english/2008-06/02/content_8298170.htm

Protesters dispersed by police near presidential office in Seoul

www.chinaview.cn 2008-06-02 08:53:22 Print
    SEOUL, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Just a day ahead of South Korea's formal 
resumption of U.S. beef imports, some 20,000 protesters scuffled with riot 
squads early Monday and hauled police vehicles away as they tried to clear 
the way to the presidential complex in Seoul.
    The protest came to a violent end when the police mobilized over 7,000 
officers to break up the crowd with clubs and riot shields only several 
hundred meters away from Cheong Wa Dae, the presidential office. It was the 
latest street rally calling on the government to retract its decision to 
allow U.S. beef imports.
    Seoul government agreed on April 18 to almost fully reopen its market to 
U.S. beef despite concerns it could also allow parts including bones and 
sections of intestines that are feared to trigger mad cow disease.
    The disease, also known as bovine spongiform scephalopathy, is found in 
a rare number of cows and believed to cause Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob 
Disease, a fatal human malady associated with sponge-like brain 
degeneration.
    After a series of delays, Seoul went ahead last week with an official 
announcement that it would begin the resumption on Tuesday, which also marks 
the 100th day since President Lee Myung-bak took office.
    Lee, a conservative who won the December election in a landslide, has 
been accused of granting Washington the beef deal as part of diplomatic 
gestures aimed at boosting his April summit with U.S. President George W. 
Bush.
    On Sunday, some 30,000 protesters began a candlelight rally in central 
Seoul, with huge portions of them later marching toward Lee's office through 
a thoroughfare next to the U.S. embassy.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20080806-152965/South-Korea-arrests-167-after-anti-Bush-protests

South Korea arrests 167 after anti-Bush protests

Agence France-Presse
First Posted 08:25:00 08/06/2008
SEOUL -- South Korean police used water cannon and arrested 167 people to 
break up protests in the evening and overnight against the visit of US 
President George W. Bush, officers said Wednesday.
A total of 155 people were arrested overnight, a spokesman for the National 
Police Agency told AFP.
Twelve others were held earlier for staging an anti-war rally at a military 
airport near Seoul, where Air Force One landed Tuesday evening.
Demonstrators protesting against Korea's resumption of US beef imports and 
against Bush's visit held a peaceful candlelit rally in a central Seoul 
plaza later in the evening.
Police fired water cannon, laced with tear-causing chemicals and dye to 
identify offenders, after the crowd dispersed into neighboring streets. 
Unauthorized political protest marches after sunset are illegal in South 
Korea.
Police said 2,700 people took part in the candlelit rally while organizers 
put the number at 10,000.
"Down with Lee Myung-Bak!" and "We oppose Bush's trip," demonstrators 
chanted. A student trampled on a picture of Bush and South Korean President 
Lee Myung-Bak bearing the slogan: "No Bush. No mad cow."
Police have stationed about 7,000 officers to guard Bush while 17,000 more 
are being deployed to control protests.
South Korea's April decision to resume US beef imports, which were suspended 
in 2003 over mad cow disease fears, sparked months of street protests.
The rallies largely subsided after Seoul secured extra health safeguards for 
US beef imports. Attendance Tuesday was tiny compared to protests earlier in 
the summer.
On Tuesday afternoon some 30,000 military veterans, rightwing activists and 
conservative Christians staged a rally in support of Bush's visit, according 
to police estimates.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/05/bush.arrives/index.html?eref=rss_politics

Protests greet Bush in Seoul
Story Highlights
NEW: Protest organizers say about 10,000 people taking part in 
demonstrations
First stop is South Korea, where U.S. nuclear deal with North Korea is a 
concern
In Thailand, president will make what's being billed as major speech on Asia 
policy
Trip's final stop is in Beijing, China, where president will attend Olympics

SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- Thousands of protesters packed the streets of 
the South Korean capital Tuesday as President Bush arrived for the start of 
his Asian tour.

Protesters clash with police Tuesday during a rally against President Bush's 
visit to Seoul, South Korea.

While some of the demonstrations were peaceful, violence erupted at other 
protest sites. In one instance, riot police fired a water cannon to keep the 
crowds at bay.
Police said they detained about 80 protesters. They estimated about 2,700 
people were participating in the protests, which included a candlelight 
march and a sit-in. But the organizers said some 10,000 people were taking 
part in the demonstrations.
The weeklong trip will be Bush's ninth visit to the region as president.
His stop in the Seoul comes just months after violent street protests 
erupted over worries about the safety of U.S. beef imports.
While those tensions seem to have eased, the U.S. nuclear disarmament deal 
with North Korea is also a concern.
Michael Green, a former Bush adviser on Asian affairs who is now with the 
Center for Strategic and International Studies, said Seoul's proximity to 
North Korea contributed to an ongoing unease.
"The North Koreans have 11,000 artillery tubes and rockets aimed at the 
South Korean capital, so any little thing that we do with North Korea makes 
the South Koreans very jittery," Green said.
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"On the other hand, the U.S. has to worry a great deal about where 
terrorists might get nuclear weapons or nuclear material."
After South Korea, the president will go to Thailand for what's being billed 
as a major Asia policy speech. See a map of Bush's itinerary »
He's expected to denounce the military regime in neighboring Myanmar -- also 
known as Burma -- for its human rights abuses. First lady Laura Bush has 
fervently taken up the cause, sharply criticizing the regime for its 
response to a cyclone which killed tens of thousands of people.
"The more I've seen, the more critical I see the need is ... for the world 
to pay attention to the people of Burma, and for the world to put pressure 
on the military regime," Laura Bush told reporters in a May news conference 
in the White House briefing room -- the first ever by a first lady.
President Bush will continue his Asia tour with a visit to Beijing to attend 
the 2008 Olympics, a decision critics have blasted, saying his presence 
gives China a pass on its poor record on human rights and religious freedom.
Last week, the president again defended his decision in an interview with 
China's state-run television network.
"I think it's best for U.S.-China's relations that I go. I know it's 
important for me to send a clear signal to the Chinese people that we 
respect them," he said.
Bush plans to attend a church service in Beijing to deliver what is sure to 
be a carefully crafted message.

"He will have to say something public which is always tricky, how much he 
spotlights these issues," Green said. "And I think he will not [do it] in an 
adversarial way."
Last week, the president welcomed five Chinese dissidents to the White 
House, telling them he would carry a "message of freedom" to Beijing. The 
move drew a sharp rebuke from Chinese leaders, who accused the president of 
interfering in their country's internal affairs.

http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=225594&Sn=WORL&IssueID=31139

Protests greet Bush in Seoul

SEOUL: US President George W Bush was greeted in Asia with duelling 
demonstrations by prayerful, flag-waving supporters and raucous protesters 
doused by police water cannons yesterday, reflecting sharp political 
divisions at the outset of his three-nation trip.
The mixed reactions reflected a US-South Korean relationship that has 
endured volatile moments this year, but is still considered reliable and 
vital for both sides.
Bush will meet today with President Lee Myung-bak, a conservative, pro-US 
leader who took office in February.
Lee's approval ratings tumbled when he lifted a ban on US beef despite 
public fears about its safety. The public outcry prompted street protests 
that drew attention worldwide earlier this year; Bush held off visiting 
Seoul around that time because of the unrest.
As Bush arrived yesterday, 30,000 people held an outdoor Christian prayer 
service to support him. His motorcade sped by pockets of people smiling and 
waving US flags his way.
Later, an estimated 20,000 anti-Bush protesters gathered downtown. Riot 
police blasted them with water cannons as they tried to march onto the main 
boulevard. Police warned the crowd that the liquid contained markers to tag 
them so they could be identified later.
About 70 demonstrators were arrested and 12 more were arrested near the 
military airport where Bush landed.
"I don't have anti-US sentiment. I'm just anti-Bush and anti-Lee Myung-bak," 
said Uhm Ki-woong, 36, a businessman who was wearing a mask and hat like 
other demonstrators in an apparent attempt to conceal his identity from 
authorities.
Despite the protests, the US has a good standing with the Seoul government. 
The US has quietly maintained a long-term troop presence in South Korea, now 
numbered at almost 30,000, since intervening in the 1950-1953 Korean War.
"The US made sacrifices for South Korea during the Korean War and helped us 
live well," said Kim Jung-kwang, a 67-year-old retired air force colonel who 
wore his military uniform to the prayer rally. "The US is not our enemy. 
Without the US, we will die."
Bush is on his ninth trip to Asia; this one is built around the Olympics in 
Beijing.
Bush will also stop in Thailand today.
The White House anticipated protests over the beef issue but sought to put 
them in perspective. US beef has begun appearing again on the South Korean 
market and is selling.

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200806/200806110014.html

Biggest Beef Protests Yet Mark Democratic Anniversary
The largest candlelight demonstrations yet against the import of U.S. beef 
brought hundreds of thousands of protesters to the streets in over 80 cities 
nationwide on Tuesday, the 21st anniversary of the June 10, 1987 
pro-democracy movement. Some 80,000 people gathered in Seoul alone, a figure 
disputed by the organizers who claim there were in fact 500,000. 
Conservative groups also held their own rallies supporting the government in 
the Seoul Plaza in front of the City Hall.
The People's Association for Measures Against Mad Cow Disease held a 
candlelight vigil from 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday on Sejongro to call for a 
complete withdrawal of the promulgation of sanitary conditions for U.S. beef 
imports, immediate re-negotiation, and judgment on the Lee Myung-bak 
administration. Some 80,000 demonstrators occupied two km of a 10-lane road 
from the Sejongro and the head office of the Samsung Group. From 9:20 p.m., 
the protesters moved to Seodaemun, Anguk-dong, and Dongnaemun to advance on 
Cheong Wa Dae.

Protesters fill Seoul Plaza in a candlelight vigils against U.S. beef 
imports commemorating the 21st anniversary of the June 10, 1987 
pro-democracy protest.

Police confronted them when the demonstrators tried to march towards Cheong 
Wa Dae. The rallies paralyzed traffic in downtown Seoul until early 
Wednesday morning. Some 4,000 workers from the Korea Federation of Public 
Services and Transportation Workers’ Union, 2,300 from the Korean Metal 
Workers' Union, and teachers from the Korea Teachers and Education Workers’ 
Union joined the protesters. Police erected huge barricades with containers 
in three spots in downtown Seoul since Tuesday morning.
Meanwhile, conservative groups including the New Right National Union held a 
rally at 3 p.m. Tuesday, calling for restoration of order and quick approval 
of the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement. More than 7,000, according to the 
police, came out in support of their cause.
(englishnews at chosun.com )

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7479560.stm

Clashes in Seoul over US beef row

At least 13,000 people protested in Seoul, police say
South Korean police have used water cannon to disperse thousands of people 
in the capital Seoul protesting against the resumption of US beef imports.
The protests took place as US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice insisted 
in Seoul that US beef was safe to eat.
South Korea suspended US beef imports in 2003 after a case of mad cow 
disease, or BSE, was identified there.
Earlier this week, it formally lifted the ban, allowing shipments of meat 
from young US cattle.
An agreement on ending the ban was reached in April and it was due to be 
lifted in May, but this was twice postponed as protests continued, despite 
reassurances that US meat was safe.
Anger
At least 13,000 people demonstrated in Seoul on Saturday, police said.
The police erected barricades, using buses to prevent the protesters from 
marching towards the presidential office.
"We don't need US troops, we don't need US mad cows," read some of the 
slogans.
Public anger in South Korea remains high at what is perceived by many as the 
government's readiness to cave into Washington and ignore health concerns.
The latest protest came as Ms Rice was visiting Seoul.
"I can only say that American beef is safe and that we hope in time the 
South Korean people will listen to that, and will be willing to listen to 
what their government is saying and what we are saying," Ms Rice said.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2008/06/200862943658471818.html

Korean beef activists battle police

Activists have staged daily protests against the decision to resume US beef 
imports [AFP]

Hundreds of of South Koreans protesting against the resumption of US beef 
imports have been injured in clashes with riot police.

Police fired water cannon and used batons in an attempt to disperse the 
protesters, some of which were carrying steel pipes and throwing stones, in 
the capital Seoul.
About 15,000 people had gathered for a rally on Saturday night demanding 
that the government withdraw its decision to lift a ban of American beef.

But the protest turned violent when some people used ropes to try and move 
police buses that were used as barricades to prevent them from marching on 
the president's Blue House office.
Many of the injured suffered head wounds from the stones that were being 
thrown and were taken to hospitals in ambulances, according to witnesses on 
the scene.

A police spokesman said more than 30 troops were injured in the prolonged 
overnight clashes, while protest organisers claimed that more than 100 
citizens were hurt.

Police said that they arrested about 50 protesters on charges of assaulting 
police and illegally occupying streets.

Health fears

Activists have held daily protests sparked by the fears of possible health 
risks, such as mad cow disease, from US beef.

Imports were banned in late 2003, when the first case of mad cow disease in 
the US was discovered.

Condoleezza Rice, the US secreatary of state, was inundated with questions 
about the issue during an official visit to Seoul on Saturday

"I want to assure everyone that American beef is safe," she said during a 
news conference with Yu Myung-hwan, her South Korean counterpart.

"We will continue to work with you to have consumer confidence in that 
matter."

In the wake of public outrage over plans to resume shipments of American 
beef, the South Korean cabinet offered to resign and the president 
reshuffled his senior advisers.

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200806/200806090012.html

 Beef Protests Turn Violent
Violence marred protests against the import of U.S. beef in Seoul early 
Sunday morning, when demonstrators for the first time in the ongoing 
protests wielded iron pipes and wooden planks. An organization calling 
itself the People's Association for Measures Against Mad Cow Disease 
organized a candlelight vigil in Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall at 7 p.m. 
on Saturday. Demonstrators then attempted to march to Cheong Wa Dae after 
walking from the Gwanghwamun area to Angukro and Dongnimmunro. Police 
estimated some 42,000 protesters gathered, and the organizers put the number 
at 200,000. Police deployed 167 companies of altogether 15,000 officers and 
built barricades with buses to block the approach to Cheong Wa Dae, causing 
protesters to return to Sejongro and square off with police.
After midnight, some protesters attacked officers on the police bus with 
flagpoles and ladders. Police wielded shields and sprayed them with fire 
extinguisher. Some demonstrators broke the windows and engines of the police 
bus with iron pipes and wooden bars. Eleven protesters were arrested, 
including a 35-year-old man identified as Yoon. One, a teenager, was later 
freed and 10 are being investigated.

Am anti U.S. beef protester brandishes a pipe at police officer inside a bus 
blocking the way toward Cheong Wa Dae on early Sunday morning.

At 7:40 p.m. on Sunday, some 4,000 people, or 30,000 according to the 
organizers, gathered in Seoul Plaza for a candlelight vigil and marching 
rally. Justice Minister Kim Kyung-han and Minister of Public Administration 
and Security Won Se-hoon in a joint emergency statement at 7 p.m. said, “The 
government has respected and tolerated the large-scale demonstrations for 
more than a month because it felt that citizens were exercising their right 
to expression,” they said. “However, excessive rallies night and day have 
paralyzed traffic in nearby areas and are causing serious inconvenience to 
many citizens.” Kim warned that legal action is inevitable if illegal and 
violent demonstrations continue at the cost of social stability.
(englishnews at chosun.com )

http://www.worldpress.org/feed.cfm?http://www.nzherald.co.nz/index.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10515375&ref=rss

S Korean beef protester dies
6:15AM Tuesday June 10, 2008
A South Korean man died in hospital two weeks after setting himself ablaze 
in protest at a deal to resume US beef imports.
Lee Byong Ryol, 40, had received treatment for serious burns since he doused 
himself with paint thinner and set himself on fire.

 http://www.nowpublic.com/world/beef-protests-korea-street-democracy-candlight-vigils-storming-barricadeBeef protests in Korea: street democracy, candlight vigils, stormingbarricadeby cynthia yoo | June 11, 2008 at 01:03 pm | 151 views | 1 commentby cynthia yooby nike6The US beef protests in South Korea is reaching fever pitch.Participants and observers are comparing the protests, marches and vigils tothe solidarity movements in Europe and to the Korean democracy movement inthe 1980's.One focal point of the rising 'street democracy' movement is the widestretch of freight container barricade blocking the main Gwanghwamun roadleading to the presidential Blue House and government buildings.Anti-US beef protesters numbering in the tens of thousands gathered in frontof the barricade aka "Myung-bak Fort" (named after President Lee Myung-bak).They gathered to debate whether to take down the barricade or to continuepeaceful protests.  Speakers spoke for 7 hours from late Wednesday night toearly Thursday morning.Speakers ranged from movement leaders to any participant who wanted to havetheir say.  OhmyNews reported on the marathon-debate:어떤 이는 논리적으로 차근차근 이야기했고, 다른 이는 울분을 터뜨렸다. 청중은 견해에 따라 박수와 야유를 보냈다.Source: ohmynews.comTrans. "Some spoke reasonably and thoughtfully, others broke down in tears.The thousands protesters cheered and booed throughout."이 런 토론이 한 곳에서만 벌어진 게 아니다. 여기저기 곳곳에서 열렸다. 컨테이너 경계선 안쪽에서 이명박 대통령이 잠들어 있었을 시간,경계선 밖 광화문 사거리는 아크로폴리스 광장으로 변했고 그곳의 주인공으로 우뚝 선 시민들은 자기 말을 하고 남의 말을 들으며 밤을지새웠다.Source: ohmynews.comTrans. "These debates didn't just take place in front of the barricades,they happened all over.  While President Lee Myung-bak slept across from oneside of the barricade, on the other side of the barricade, theGwanghwamun-intersection turned into the Acropolis square and citizens tookcentre state there, staying up all night debating with one another."As speakers and demonstrators debated throughout the night, people startedto carry in giant styrofoam blocks into the intersection.  The styrofoamblocks were stacked-up one-by-one to create another barricade in front ofthe "Myung-back Fort."  People argued that the Citizens' fort should topMyung-bak's Fort.At the end, Myung-bak's Fort was not taken down.국 민들은 여전히 대통령과 소통의 부재를 느낀다. 11일 새벽 한 시민은 "앞으로 경찰의 저지선을 뚫지 말지를 <다음> 아고라에서토론하고 결정하자"며 "다수가 결정하는 방향으로 모두 따르자"고 제안했다. 시민들은 환호와 박수를 보냈다.돌아보면 시민들은 지난 한 달 동안 꾸준히 싸움의 수위를 높여왔다. 촛불문화제가 거리 시위로 이어졌고, "고시철회 협상무효" 구호는"이명박 퇴진"으로 바뀌었다. 미국산 쇠고기 반대 촛불문화제와 거리 시위는 이제 새로운 국면에 접어들었다.Source: ohmynews.comTrans.  "Citizens complained of the lack of communication with thePresident.  One citizen in the early hours of the morning spoke out:  "Weshouldn't storm the police barricades.  Let's debate the issues on theDaum-Agora website with one another and then decide.  And let's follow whatthe majority decides."  The audience clapped and cheered in agreement."Looking back, there has been continual protests over the past month.  Thecandlelight vigils have turned into street demonstrations.  Calls forabandoning unfair negotiations have turned into calls for the PresidentLee's withdrawal and resignation.  It is clear that these demonstrationshave entered a new phase."http://rss.xinhuanet.com/newsc/english/2008-06/11/content_8345589.htmS Korean protesters climb container barricade to oppose U.S. beef importswww.chinaview.cn 2008-06-11 10:24:29 Print    SEOUL, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Elements of at least 80,000 protestersagainst South Korea's recent agreement to resume U.S. beef imports raisedmakeshift styrofoam stairs early Wednesday to climb a bulky containerbarricade set up to prevent their march on the presidential complex.    More than a dozen protesters waved flags, including the national flag,and unfurled a banner criticizing President Lee Myung-bak, after reachingthe top of the five-meter barricade at the landmark Sejonro Intersection,about a kilometer away from the presidential palace, Yonhap news agencyreported.    The protesters also criticized other major plans by the new government,including a cross-country canal project and a set of pro-business economicreforms.    The rare scene at the sand-filled containers came early Wednesdaymorning after scuffles erupted among protesters with no serious injuriesreported as they debated for hours whether they should override safetyconcerns to stage their opposition to the April 18 deal between Seoul andWashington.    Protesters argue that the deal fails to protect South Koreans from madcow disease because it allows beef from cows 30 months old or above whileparts like bones can be imported.    Mad cow disease, also known as bovine spongiform scephalopathy, mostlyhas been found in cattle over the age, while specified risk materials,including intestines, tongues and tails, pose greater risk of transmittingit.    The barricade marked the first time that South Korean police have usedcontainers in the capital, as previous protests involved demonstrators usingropes to pull police buses and clear their way to the presidential palace.    The scene was reminiscent of a 2005 anti-globalization protest when asimilar barricade was set up against farmers and activists in South Korea'ssecond largest city Busan during a meeting of Asian Pacific leaders there.    The rally that began on Tuesday in Seoul, which police estimated 80,000joined, was the largest ever since candlelight vigils began early last monthagainst the April 18 agreement.    Amid the daily protests calling for a better deal, Lee phoned his U.S.counterpart George W. Bush on Saturday and asked him to only allow theexport of beef made from cattle younger than 30 months.    A top presidential advisor and a group of ruling party lawmakers alsoleft for Washington on Monday to follow up on the phone conversation, whilethe Cabinet has offered to resign over the political crisis aggravated bynose-diving public approval ratings for Lee.    The rally in Seoul came on the anniversary of a historic 1987 protestthat led the then-military regime to grant free presidential elections andprompted a series of democratic reforms.    The National Police Agency initiated the highest alert that allows about40,000 riot police officers to be mobilized nationwide when authoritiesbelieve public security is severely threatened.    Scientists believe mad cow disease leads to the spongy-like degenerationof the brain, medically referred to as variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease,when a human contracts the disease by eating infected food.    About 200 people have died around the world from the disease, butaccording to the U.S. government, no human infection has been reported fromeating American beef.    South Korea has declared it will indefinitely delay putting theAprildeal in effect until Washington or U.S. exporters agree to refrain fromexporting beef from cows aged 30 months or older. Butit has not addressedthe controversy over parts to be imported.    The U.S. side has yet to respond formally to South Korea's request. http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/jun2008/kore-j12.shtmlSouth Korean government unravels in the face of mass political protestsBy James Cogan12 June 2008Use this version to print | Send this link by email | Email the authorThe conservative Grand National Party (GNP) administration of South KoreanPresident Lee Myung-bak is in disarray little more than three months aftertaking office. It faces popular repudiation of virtually its entire policyagenda, amid the largest anti-government demonstrations since the final daysof the military dictatorship in 1987.Well over a million Koreans took to the streets in Seoul and 80 other citiesand towns on Tuesday evening. The main slogan of as many as 700,000demonstrators in Seoul was “Out with President Lee”, making clear theirrejection of his attempt to appease the opposition by having his entirecabinet offer to resign earlier in the day.The initial trigger for the unrest was the government’s unexpected liftingin April of the ban imposed in 2003 on US beef imports due to mad cowinfections. The announcement on beef imports was made as a concession to theBush administration during Lee’s first state visit to Washington, where hewas seeking to make progress on protracted 18-month negotiations toward aUS-Korean free trade agreement that would enhance opportunities for Koreanexporters. US negotiators have repeatedly linked a repeal of the beef ban toany trade deal. South Korea was previously the third-largest market forAmerican beef.To many Koreans, Lee’s decision was a subservient gesture to US corporateinterests, made in anti-democratic contempt for public opinion and at thepotential expense of their health and safety. Fear of mad cow infectionsfrom US beef was subsequently heightened by Korean nationalist groups, whogenerated a degree of hysteria over the issue with crude anti-Americanism.Accusations were made that the American beef industry intended to dumppotentially infected beef in South Korea that it would not sell at home.Small demonstrations against the decision steadily grew throughout May butrapidly became the focus for discontent over a number of political andsocial issues. Opposition to US beef imports is now only a component of afar broader movement against the Lee government. Demonstrators on Tuesdaychanted against moves to privatise state-owned companies and ban labourstrikes; the cost of education; rising fuel and food prices; an unpopularplan to build a canal across the country; and the GNP’s attempt to shiftSouth Korea into alignment with the Bush administration’s bellicose stancetoward the North Korean regime.The date of Tuesday’s protests, June 10, is the anniversary of the historic1987 demonstration that began the weeks of rallies, called the “Resistanceof June”, that brought down the military dictatorship. Demonstrators openlycompared Lee with US-backed South Korean dictators such as General ChunDoo-hwan and Park Chung-hee.A 33-year-old computer specialist, Lee Hong-taek, told Washington Postcorrespondents: “It is too late to soothe the public with lip service andeven fixing the beef issue is too late. The real question is his leadershipstyle.” A 41-year-old office worker said to the Associated Press: “I came tothe rally again because Lee has turned the clock back to 21 years ago.”Kim Sook-yi, a housewife, commented to the New York Times: “What he [Lee]did was little different from an old Korean king offering tribute to aChinese emperor. This time, we give a tribute to Washington? It’shumiliating, bad education for Korean children.”Lee won the December 2007 election and took office on February 25. He isalready polling just 17 percent in opinion polls—the lowest for anypresident in the first 100 days in office. The rapid collapse of support forhis administration only underscores that the main factor in his victory wasnot support for his agenda, but disillusionment with the so-called“democrats” who had held the presidency since 1993.Presidents Kim Young-sam (1993-98), Kim Dae-jung (1998-2003) and RohMoon-hyan (2003-2008), were all figures in the pro-capitalist opposition tomilitary rule during the 1970s and 1980s. Far from their ascent to officeushering in a period of radical social and political change, they worked toprotect the interests of the corporate elite and suppress working classdemands for reform. Since 1998, the consequences of the Asian financialcrisis have been imposed on the backs of the Korean masses. Living standardshave stagnated or fallen and social inequality widened. Adding to thealienation, Roh took the deeply unpopular step of committing thousands ofKorean troops to the US occupation of Iraq in order to shore up the US-Koreaalliance.In last year’s election, millions of people abstained from voting out ofdisgust with having to choose between Roh and Lee—the candidate of the GNP,the party most associated with the old military dictatorship. The turnoutwas just 63 percent, compared with 80 percent in the 1997 election of KimDae-jung. Lee’s victory stemmed primarily from a populist campaign in whichhe claimed that his experience in business made him more capable of devisingeconomic policies to improve the lot of ordinary people.Instead, the first months of 2008 have seen conditions steadily worsen. Fuelprices have risen sharply, helping to push inflation to a seven-year high of4.9 percent last month. Economic growth is slowing and is expected to beonly 5 percent for the year. Unemployment is predicted to increase due to acontraction in the construction industry and layoffs by Korean manufacturingexporters affected by the slowdown in the US.In this economic and social climate, the beef import issue is serving as alightning rod for well over a decade of pent-up hostility toward the entirepolitical establishment. While Lee’s popularity has plummeted, the party ofthe “democrats”, the United New Democratic Party, is also registering lessthan 20 percent support in polls.Ongoing discontentA series of demonstrations and strikes are scheduled over the coming days,deepening the crisis of the Lee government.Large crowds are expected to turn out tomorrow for a vigil to mark the sixthanniversary of the June 13, 2002 killing of two Korean schoolgirls by a USmilitary vehicle. Thousands of truck drivers are launching a general striketomorrow over fuel prices. Workers have rejected as inadequate a governmentoffer to compensate them for half the increases. The Korean export industrywill be crippled by the action. Unions representing auto workers at Hyundaiand Kia are holding meetings today and tomorrow on whether to launch strikeaction not only against the lifting of the beef import ban, butprivatisation and the canal project.On Saturday, a planned public funeral of Lee Byeong-ryeol is likely to drawlarge numbers of people into the streets. Lee, a 56-year-old worker, sethimself on fire on May 25 during an anti-beef protest and died later of hisinjuries.Lee Myung-bak has responded with an element of panic. In the past 24 hours,he has declared that he will make major changes to his cabinet andrepudiated key polices of his administration. His spokesman, Choo Yoon-sun,told a press conference yesterday that Lee was delaying “public corporationprivatisations and the pan-Korean waterway project” as they were “adding tothe public’s concern, amid a flurry of conflicting views over the government’s controversial policy tasks”.Choo announced that “the government and the GNP agreed to readjust policypriorities and to focus on bread-and-butter issues”. A range of subsidies,cheap loans and concessions were unveiled for truck drivers, small businessand low-income earners. Lee is reportedly seeking to appoint Park Geun-hyeas the new prime minister. She is the daughter of former military dictatorPark Chung-hee and his rival for the GNP presidential nomination. Parkenjoys a degree of support among sections of the middle class and alienatedyouth.The broader alarm in ruling class circles over the eruption of discontent isexpressed in yesterday’s editorials in the Korean press.The Korea Herald declared the “nation is in crisis... comparable to that ofthe 1997 financial crisis”. Protestors, it wrote, “should go back to theirhomes, workers to their jobs, activists to their original fields of campaignand lawmakers to the National Assembly. They need to watch what thepresident and his administration do....”The GNP-aligned Chosun Ilbo commented: “People elsewhere must have thoughtsome kind of revolution was taking place in Korea.” While stating that the“government is chiefly to blame”, it declared “it is high time, however,that the people who took part in the candlelight vigils, too, took some timeto think... Should we shake the government more and hurt governmentfunctions further, the citizens in general will pay...”In more than a hint that the state should employ outright repression, ChosunIlbo concluded: “The usual suspects who also led protests against thedispatch of our troops to Iraq, the construction of the Pyeongtaek US baseand the Korea-US free trade agreement, have taken over. They use thehousewives carrying candles and high school students holding non-violentpickets as foils.”http://rss.xinhuanet.com/newsc/english/2008-06/14/content_8368320.htmAnti-government protest continues in S KoreaPolice block protesters trying to march toward the presidential Blue Housein Seoul after a candle-light vigil June 7, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)Photo Gallery>>>    SEOUL, June 14 (Xinhua) -- More than 700 South Koreans continued theirprotest in Seoul Saturday morning, shortly after attending the funeral of aSouth Korean man who set himself ablaze protesting the planned resumption ofU.S. beef imports, Yonhap reported.    The man died at a Seoul hospital on Monday, about two weeks after he sethimself on fire while taking part in a street rally in the southern city ofJeonju.    The protester's suicide action added an emotional mood to the ralliesand public anger has grew into protests against a broader range of PresidentLee Myung-bak's policies, from a huge canal project to educational reformplans, Yonhap reported.    Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets almost everynight in recent weeks.    Lee's popularity has nosedived since his government signed a deal withthe U.S. in April to end years of bans on U.S. beef imports.http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/korea/2008/06/14/160918/Protests%2Dgo.htmProtests go on as trade minister heads to U.S.By Burt Herman, APSaturday, June 14, 2008SEOUL, South Korea -- Thousands of South Koreans kept up their protestsFriday against the government's plan to resume U.S. beef imports, while thecountry's trade minister departed for Washington in an attempt to appeasedemonstrators' demands.Meanwhile, truckers went on strike to protest rising fuel prices in a freshchallenge for President Lee Myung-bak's young government.In the latest of the anti-government rallies that have echoed through thestreets of the capital for more than a month, about 10,000 demonstratorsgathered Friday in front of Seoul's City Hall, police said.Many carried candles at the protest, which coincided with the anniversary ofthe deaths of two schoolgirls in a 2002 accident with a U.S. militaryvehicle. That event became a flashpoint for anti American protests backed byliberal politicians in a presidential election year, helping them maintainthe presidency by promising not to kowtow to Washington.Lee's agreement to resume U.S. beef imports in April just before a summitwith U.S. President George W. Bush was viewed by critics as caving in toAmerican demands, stoking South Koreans' strong nationalist pride andaccusations that he failed to seek a public consensus over health concerns."I think South Korea is a colony of the United States," Shin Jung-ah, athird year high school student, said in a speech to the protesters.Referring to the dead schoolgirls, she said: "We will make efforts to changethe situation where both of you died unfairly. I hope you support us fromthe heavens."Protesters chanted back, "Punish U.S. murderer soldiers," and called forchanges in the agreement governing American forces' presence in South Korea.Some 28,500 U.S. troops remain deployed in South Korea in a legacy of theKorean War, which ended in 1953 with a cease-fire that has never beenreplaced by a peace treaty.Protest organizers said they will intensify their rallies after next Fridayif the government fails to agree to completely renegotiate the beefagreement.Meanwhile, about 900 conservatives demonstrated at two TV stations againstcoverage that they claimed had encouraged the anti-government protests,police said.Trade Minister Kim Jong-hoon traveled to Washington and was scheduled tomeet U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab later Friday to discuss aproposal for U.S. beef producers to voluntarily agree not to ship meat fromcattle older than 30 months, which are believed to be more susceptible tomad cow disease.South Korea was the third largest overseas market for U.S. beef until itbanned imports after a case of mad cow disease was detected in 2003, thefirst of three confirmed cases in the United States.Meanwhile in another headache for Lee, who took office in February, morethan 13,000 unionized truck drivers stopped working early Friday to protestsurging oil prices.The strike was expected to cripple operations in South Korean ports andcause massive losses to exporters. The government said it planned todispatch 100 military trucks and use trains to help transport cargo duringthe strike.http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/6428236.htmlPolice detain dozens of protesters after overnight rally+-15:16, June 11, 2008Police in Seoul said they detained two dozens of protesters Wednesdaymorning at one of the busiest intersections in Seoul after an overnightrally.A large candlelight demonstration against the government's U.S. beef importdeal was held late Tuesday night in the capital. It drew at least 80,000citizens -- 700,000 according to organizers --the largest turnout since U.S.beef protests started in central Seoul in early May, according to the Yonhapnews agency.No major clashes occurred during the demonstration, but hundreds of people,mostly members of the Korean Metal Workers Union, continued occupying thestreet through the morning rush hour despite a police order for them todisperse, Yonhap said.Police said they detained 24 people, including five women, for occupying theSejong-no street.They protest against the government's decision in April to lift almost allbans on U.S. beef imports. The protesters called for renegotiation of theU.S. beef pact to protect South Koreans from the threats of mad cow disease.http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23846555-38196,00.html?from=public_rssProtesters in beef flap clog cityBy Lim Chang-Won in SeoulJune 11, 2008 01:01pmArticle from: Agence France-PresseFont size: + -Send this article: Print EmailTENS of thousands of flag-waving South Koreans packed central Seoulovernight, demanding an agreement to resume US beef imports be scrapped andnew President Lee Myung-Bak resign.The entire cabinet earlier offered to quit following weeks of turmoil overthe deal, which opponents say exposes Koreans to the risk of mad cowdisease, but demonstrators pressed on with their largest protest to date.Police erected barricades of greased shipping containers in the heart of thecapital to block access to government buildings and the presidential palace.They said an estimated 100,000 protesters were on the streets, while 62,000demonstrated in provincial cities.Yonhap news agency today reported that more than a dozen protesters hadmanaged to climb on top of the barricades and waved banners, including thenational flag.It said they used styrofoam stairs to climb on top of the containers, whichwere placed at the landmark Sejonro Intersection, about 1km from thepresidential Blue House.The move came after scuffles erupted among protesters with no seriousinjuries reported as they debated for hours whether to override safetyconcerns, Yonhap said.Police said some 37,000 riot police were mobilised, 20,000 of them in thecapital."Today's protests are to pass judgement on the Lee Myung-Bak governmentwhich keeps ignoring people's demands despite a month of candlelitprotests,'' said activist spokesman Park Won-Suk.The US and South Korean governments say the risk of the human form of madcow disease is virtually non-existent but they have failed to persuadethousands of Korean consumers.Yonhap said Mr Lee was expected to replace four or five ministers as hegrappled with the backlash over the April agreement to resume US beefimports, which were halted in 2003 over mad cow fears.Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-Chun, whose job is said by local media to beon the line, pushed through the crowds to reach the speakers' podium inSeoul.He said he wanted to apologise to people and explain the Government'sposition but protest organisers pushed him away and crowds called him a"traitor".Police finally cleared the remnants of the protest this morning.US legislators have warned they will not ratify a free trade agreement (FTA)unless Seoul first opens its beef market.http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/jun2008/kore-j14.shtmlSouth Korean government besieged by demonstrations and strikesBy James Cogan14 June 2008Use this version to print | Send this link by email | Email the authorSouth Korean President Lee Myung-bak heads a government under siege, facinganother week of demonstrations demanding his resignation over his decisionto lift a ban on US beef imports, and a national strike by truck driversover rising fuel prices.As many as 13,000 unionised truck drivers began strike action yesterday,defying government threats to deprive any striker of a $14,500 annual fuelsubsidy and to deploy military vehicles to take over their jobs. The country’s major ports are being affected severely. While union drivers make up only3 percent of the trucking workforce, they move 20 percent of shippingcontainers, according to a report in the New York Times. The number oftrucks transporting containers out of the port of Pusan fell to just 13percent of normal levels.The strike enjoys considerable public sympathy and support. Its key demandsare for a slashing of the cost of diesel, increased haulage fees and aguaranteed minimum wage. Thousands of non-union drivers, who have been justas hard hit by the rapid rise in fuel prices over the past year, have joinedthe industrial action. At the port of Incheon, where only 157 drivers areunion members, over 2,000 non-union drivers refused to load cargo.The leadership of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), to whichthe truck drivers’ union belongs, has threatened to call a general strike ofits entire membership if the government arrests any strikers or uses forceagainst them. Workers in major industries, such as auto and ship-building,are already holding meetings over whether to launch political strikes insupport of the protest campaign against US beef imports.The beef ban was imposed in 2003 after a case of Bovine SpongiformEncephalopathy (BSE) or Mad Cow disease was discovered in American cattle.At the time, South Korea was the third largest market for US beef.The issue became a major sticking point in negotiations that began 18 monthsago on the terms of a Free Trade Agreement between the US and South Korea.South Korea’s corporate and financial elites are desperate to finalise theagreement before the Bush administration leaves office. The US DemocraticParty, reflecting the interests of American auto manufacturers, has come outagainst any pact, as it would give their South Korean rivals greater accessand competitiveness in the US market. Barak Obama, the Democratic nomineefor president, and the candidate the South Korean establishment fears willwin the election, has been one of the most vocal opponents of the proposedtrade pact.Upon assuming office in late February, Lee Myung-bak set out to resolve theimpasse. In April, his government announced it was lifting all restrictionson the sale of US beef. The outrage among South Korean workers and youth wasimmediate and has rapidly grown into a mass political movement against theentire policy agenda of Lee’s conservative Grand National Party (GNP)government, as well as against South Korea’s political and militaryalignment with the United States.Lee’s popularity has collapsed to only 17 percent—just six months since hiselection and after only three months in office. His government is seen asthe embodiment of a corrupt US-backed corporate and financial oligarchy thathas amassed vast wealth from the exploitation of the Korean working classand is indifferent to ordinary people’s problems and concerns.As demonstrations have grown in size and scope over the past two months,protestors have increasingly carried placards portraying Lee as a rat. Aswell as opposition to beef imports, demonstrators have denounced rising fueland food prices, the government’s education and health policies, moves toprivatise state-owned companies, an unpopular plan to build a canal acrossthe country, the presence of US troops in Korea and Lee’s hard-line attitudetoward the North Korean regime.More than one million people demonstrated on Tuesday in the largestpolitical rallies in South Korea since the protests to bring down themilitary dictatorship in 1987. Last night, over 10,000 people assembled incentral Seoul for a vigil to mark the sixth anniversary of the 2002 killingsof two young girls by a US military vehicle. The Associated Press reportedthat speakers demanded both the withdrawal of US troops from South Korea andLee’s resignation.A student, Sin Jung-ah, told the rally: “I think South Korea is a colony ofthe United States. We will make efforts to change the situation where bothof you [the girls killed six years ago] died unfairly. I hope you willsupport us from the heavens.” Kim Kwang-ho, a cook interviewed by theAssociated Press, said: “I want Lee Myung-bak to resign now. He’s notqualified to be our president because he unilaterally decided to import USbeef without thinking about people’s health.”Another vigil is being held today in memory of Lee Byeong-ryeol, a56-year-old worker who died after setting himself on fire during ananti-government protest on May 25.A demonstration is taking place tomorrow to mark the eighth anniversary ofthe first summit between North and South Korea in 2000. Millions of Koreanshad illusions at the time that the summit would lead to the country’sultimate reunification and an end to decades of tensions and the constantthreat of war on the Korean peninsula. Instead, they have seen the Bushadministration embark on a continuous policy of provocation against theNorth Korean regime, preventing any significant progress toward stability.More demonstrations have been scheduled for next Wednesday and Saturday bythe People’s Association for Measures Against Mad Cow Disease—a coalition of1,700 groups that has been organising virtually daily protests against thegovernment.In a statement issued on Wednesday, the coalition set June 20 as thedeadline for Lee to renegotiate the beef agreement to ensure that no UScattle older than 30 months will be sold in South Korea (younger cattle areless susceptible to contracting BSE). The statement declared: “If thegovernment decides to ignore the mandate from the people, who hold thesovereign power in this country, we will not hesitate to launch a campaignto drive President Lee Myung-bak out of office.”Lee claimed later on Wednesday to have secured a verbal undertaking from theBush administration that no cattle older than 30 months will be exported toSouth Korea. He also announced he was delaying privatisation and theconstruction of the canal across the peninsula from Seoul and Pusan. Bothpolicies have attracted mass opposition. In a further attempt to appeaseopposition, he unveiled subsidies for truck drivers and concessions forlow-income earners. He is preparing a major reshuffle of his cabinet and mayappoint a new prime minister.Lee’s desperate efforts to end the protests are a measure of how deeply theyhave shaken the Korean ruling elite. Their greatest concern is that massesof people are beginning to organise outside the parties that have dominatedKorean politics since the end of the dictatorship. Amid the outpouring ofanger at Lee, the opposition United New Democratic Party of former PresidentRoh Moon-hyan has registered no significant increase in its support. Theunderlying cause of the eruption of social discontent is the profoundalienation of the Korean working class from the entire politicalestablishment.