hankyoreh

A farmer, 56, who is only identified by his surname, Kim, lies in the hospital after having set himself on fire on June 5, in protest against the U.S. beef import agreement at Seoul City Hall Plaza.

To his left is Lee Byung-reol, who attempted to immolate himself in front of Koa Department Store in Jeonju, Jeolla Province on May 25.

Kim had worked at a livestock farm, but was fired about a month ago due to planned resumption of U.S. beef imports. Many Koreans have reduced their consumption of beef because of worries about mad cow disease, and livestock farms have suffered a severe reduction in sales. After Kim was fired, he participated in candlelight protests for two weeks.

At 2:30 a.m. on June 5, Kim poured paint thinner onto his head and struck a match, lighting his body on fire. He had called the police to inform them of his intentions 10 minutes before he immolated himself.

Kim’s wife, 55, said, “My husband criticized the Korean government for deciding to import U.S. beef again, saying that the lives of farmers and ordinary people were harder due to the government’s policies.”

The People’s Countermeasure Council against the Full Resumption of Imports of U.S. Beef Endangered with Mad Cow Disease, a civic group, held a press conference in front of the hospital for the public’s forgiveness of such extreme behavior. The council said, “Only with solidarity can the Korean people make the government renegotiate the U.S. beef import rules.”