hankyoreh

Thousands of protesters held a rally in downtown Seoul Wednesday to pay tribute to a man who burnt himself to death in protest of free trade talks between South Korea and the United States.

Taxi driver Huh Se-wook doused himself with flammable liquid and set it on fire on April 1 while shouting slogans opposing a free trade agreement (FTA) proposed between Seoul and Washington. He died on Sunday at a Seoul hospital, where he had received treatment for third-degree burns.

Huh, who belonged to a taxi drivers' union, had left a statement that said an FTA with the U.S. would harm the livelihoods of common people and farmers.

About 2,000 rallied in front of the City Hall, and about half of them marched to a U.S. military base in central Seoul. Huh's ashes were strewn outside one of its gates. No clash was reported.

South Korean and U.S. negotiators struck a free trade deal on April 2 after 10 months of talks marred by occasionally violent protests.

South Korean workers and farmers have vigorously opposed the deal, saying it will destroy their livelihoods with an influx of cheaper goods, and will instigate harsher working conditions domestically.

The agreement awaits approval by the legislatures of both countries.
Seoul, April 18 (Yonhap News)