hankyoreh

Police busses line the road surrounding Gwanghwamun Square and Sejong and Taepyeong Roads in central Seoul to block growing demonstrations against the South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA).

Citizens protested to express strong objections to police over what they called an “illegal blocking of roads,” citing a June decision by the Constitutional Court finding it unconstitutional for police to block the free movement of citizens using a vehicle barricade. Ten citizens were arrested in the process.

For the demonstration, citizens occupied the one-way lane from Jonggak Station to Namdaemun Road and Seoul Plaza. An estimated 10 thousand participants, including the heads of opposition parties, took part in a rally at around 8 p.m. at Cheonggye Plaza before dispersing after just over an hour. The participants were a diverse group that included families, couples, university students, and foreign residents. 　

(Photo by Ryu Woo-jong, Story by Lee Choong-sin)