Pro-Park protesters arrested for attacking police, reporters

Published : Mar 13, 2017 - 14:46 Updated : Mar 14, 2017 - 10:16

South Korean police on Monday arrested two supporters of the country's ousted leader Park Geun-hye for assaulting a cameraman and police officers at the former president's private home in southern Seoul.

The Gangnam Police Station said two pro-Park activists were separately arrested during a rally near Park's house after they attacked police officers on duty. Park returned to her private residence two days after the Constitutional Court upheld her impeachment over the corruption scandal involving her and her confidante.

Police said a 67-year-old pro-Park supporter, whose name is not released, pushed a police officer into the path of an oncoming vehicle and injured him, while trying to take down reporters working nearby Park's home.

Protesters clash with police near the Constitutional Court in Seoul on March 10, 2017, as the supporters of Park Geun-hye try to march toward the court in protest of its decision to dismiss Park as president. (Yonhap)

Another protester, whose name is also withheld, kicked a ladder with a cameraman on top and hit him with a stick of rolled up paper. The 65-year-old supporter then attacked a police officer with the stick and kicked the officer.

Police said they will determine whether they should request a warrant to formally arrest the two-pro Park supporters after completing their investigation.

Earlier in the day, police arrested a protester who attacked two journalists during a violent street rally last week against the Constitutional Court's decision to dismiss Park as president.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said a 55-year-old man, identified only by his last name Lee, was arrested at around 2:40 p.m. at a tent illegally set up by the rally organizers near Seoul City Hall.

Lee is suspected of striking the reporters from Yonhap News Agency and KBS who were on duty with a ladder during the rally on Friday, just after the court upheld the impeachment of Park over a massive corruption scandal.

They are planning to seek a warrant to formally arrest Lee and further investigate the incident.

During the protest, some participants used makeshift weapons, such as wooden sticks, to fight against police, who barred them from approaching the court.

The arrests came shortly after the country's police chief vowed to crack down on the organizers of the violent rally.

Three people died after they were injured or collapsed during the protest.

"After analyzing the overall statements (made by the protesters), evidence and testimonies from officers who were at the site, we will soon take necessary legal measures against those who led the violent rally," said Lee Cheol-seong, head of the National

Police Agency, during a meeting with reporters earlier in the day.

Police said the rally organizers should be held responsible for not only failing to control the participants but also instigating violence from the podium themselves. (Yonhap)