Anti-FTA protesters vow to continue

Major plazas and boulevards in downtown Seoul were closed off over the weekend as police sought to block the assembly of protestors against the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.

But the organizers of the rallies vowed to continue their protests every evening until the government responds to their demands for the pact to be withdrawn or renegotiated.

On Sunday, police placed scores of officers at the Gwanghwamun and Seoul plazas in central Seoul and parked dozens of buses to block people from gathering in the area. The numbers increased throughout the day to prevent illegal protests from taking place.

The authorities on Saturday apprehended 10 protesters who clashed with police near Jonggak station. About 5,000 riot and regular police officers used tens of buses to block avenues during the rallies that took place between 2 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Leaders of the main opposition Democratic, New Progressive, Democratic Labor and Participation parties marched in Jongno and blasted the ruling Grand National Party’s unilateral passage of the FTA. They claim the deal will hurt rather than help the Korean economy. About 10,000 people joined the rally.

“People think our protest will not last long. But we will continue our fight until the administration recognizes our voice,” said Rep. Sohn Hak-kyu, head of the DP.

Chung Dong-young, a DP lawmaker, slammed the police for “excessive suppression” of the protests.

“A political party has a right to assemble but the police have blocked the legal meeting,” he said.

The Korean Alliance against FTA, which organized a string of protests, said it will continue arranging outdoor rallies every evening.

The police said they will ban all unregistered protests and will react sternly to any violence against its officers.

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)