Half-price tuition demonstrations emboldened by support

Posted on : 2011-06-06 13:13 KST Modified on : 2019-10-19 20:29 KST
Various donations and the upcoming democratization anniversary indicate the demonstrations could continue to gather strength
 June 5.
(Photo by Lee Jong-keun)
June 5. (Photo by Lee Jong-keun)

By Lim Ji-sun 

 

As the candlelight vigil demonstrations for “half-price tuition” near Seoul’s Gwanghwamun Square mark one week, attention is focusing on whether the fervor will spread further with the 24th anniversary of the June 10 democratization movement this week.

Students are planning large-scale candlelight vigil demonstrations in conjunction with opposition parties and civic and social organizations, but police gave notice of disallowance Saturday, contending that there was “potential for it to transform into an illegal or violent demonstration.”

An official with the National Tuition Network said, “Police are trying to block this now that tuition has become a major issue and the assemblies have taken on the character of putting the administration on trial.”

“If they continue to disallow it, we will carry on with the assemblies in the form of candlelight concerts or cultural festivals,” the official added.

Interest in the tuition struggle spearheaded by university students is also transcending generational barriers. An alumni unit that has been delivering pizza and chicken since June 2 decided on Sunday to donate book which is called “the conscience of the heart.” MC Kim Je-dong donated 100 copies of his book “Goes to see the sun from two,” while KAIST Professor Jeong Jae-seung gave 100 copies of his “Apologize with Cool” and OhmyNews CEO Oh Yeon-ho gave 50 copies each of “Plan for a Progressive Administration” and “Roh Moo-hyun: The Last Interview.”

More than 10 million won ($9,280) had been collected in four days in donations to a bank account created by the “Tax Revolution Party” on June 2 for supporting the tuition battle.

Meanwhile, police carried out a mass arrest of candlelight vigil demonstration participants Saturday evening, the second after 73 participants were taken away on May 29. Of the twenty people arrested on Saturday, two or three were reportedly “alumni” who had gone to Gwanghwamun to support the university students.

One student lost consciousness during the arrest and was taken to the hospital.

  

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]

 

 

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