hankyoreh

the People’s Countermeasure Council against the Full Resumption of Imports of U.S. Beef Endangered with Mad Cow Disease

The South Korean government’s decision to resume imports of U.S. beef has inspired a series of candlelight rallies. However, what began as a movement organized around the idea of protesting the beef agreement between South Korea and the United States, has become an act of disobedience aimed at demanding civil rights as guaranteed by law. Regardless of the fact that many ordinary citizens are taken into custody after the nightly rallies, a growing number of people have appeared with increasing regularity asking to be arrested. Meanwhile, the Internet sites of the National Police Agency and local police stations have been bombarded by articles protesting the police crackdown on the candlelight rallies.

Citizens demonstrating against the resumption of U.S. beef imports gathered in downtown Seoul on the night of May 27. At the end of the rally, those assembled heard a declaration from rally organizers. Then, approximately 200 of those assembled marched toward Seoul City Hall Plaza. Contrary to assertions made by the police, the event organizers seemed just to be facilitating the event, and not leading the people, who seemed to have assembled voluntarily. Later, when about 100 of those marching were encircled by police, they all boarded the police bus without objection.

As shown by remarks made by a man in his 50s, who said, “If the situation results in our having to go to the police station, I will,” the people who were being hauled away seemed to act with more dignity than those in power, rendering the law on public assembly and demonstrations powerless.

Professor Cho Guk of Seoul National University said, “These street demonstrations are against the law on public assembly and demonstrations, but it is remarkable that citizens are expressing their willingness to disobey the law and be punished.” If the police start taking demonstrators into custody at random, it will invite strong resistance from the general public because the fact that they have come out to the streets is not a serious violation of the law, Cho said.

Behind such acts of civil disobedience committed by ordinary citizens is the recognition that their behavior is more reasonable than that of those in power. Even if they admit that they have broken the law, it is more important to them that the freedom of expression as guaranteed by the constitution be recognized. They are also confident that no acts of violence have been committed during the demonstrations. To a certain degree, many may also feel justified in participating in the rallies because they are doing so as individuals, and not as members of an established civic organization.

A man in his 30s who was taken into custody on May 27 said to a policeman that he plans to join the demonstrations again when he is released. The police will never win the fight against lawful citizens, he said.

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