Violent crack-down of peaceful protest in South Korea

[Wbeliever7]

is that water that thy're spraying?

[sekmet21]

Beef is regarded as a upper class dish in south korea, I'm not joking, it's true.

[mitchx69]

Thats fucked those people are just standing there getting hit by the water canons now that how riots happen

[mitchx69]

Whats the difference between Korean and American wouldnt it be easier if you use Korean Beef meaning it takes less time than American to get to the supermarkets the Government should support its People and its farmers whats next rice from America it needs to support its people

[MikeOfKorea]

세계인권선언: 제 20 조

모든 사람은 평화적인 집회 및 결사의 자유에 대한 권리를 가진다.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Article 20

Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and association.

[therooster14]

peaceful protests ?

hahahahahahahahaha !

yeah right.

Idiots....protesting against cheaper and safer beef. It's a fact that american beef is safer and more tested than korean beef.

[key2993]

Then you eat up!!

[splutonium]

Sure ! Am already ! Since there has been American beef in Korea I've been right in line to buy it. I don't even like to eat meat that much , but I'm doing it out of spite of the stupid protests.

[key2993]

So what? mind your business !! if you already had ,then eat up till you died. having you say that American beef is delicious, eat continuously . It's extremely cheap same as rubbish .

What do you reason for leaving a rubbish here . I don't want to waste my time .

[Fredseventeen]

Let the free market take its course. No one is forcing ANYONE to eat American beef. So please don't infringe on my rights to choose to eat what I want. One other thing - please don't post comments if you're English is poor. You are an embarassment.

[falcon36]

I'm sure, with your knowledgibility, that you've heard of the Kyung Joo protests as well? Hmm? That's an example of a violent protest and an example of how the govt used it to their advantage. Martial Law. That's what the Korean's know will happen when there's a violent protest. And that's what they're avoiding. These protests are peaceful. End of story. So don't go creating conspiracy theories on matters that you know nothing of.

[tor1976]

Blah blah blah... Koreans don't UNDERSTAND non violence. You're just not there yet. I was at Jongno from Day 1, all the way back in friggin March. It was pushing and shoving and hysterics from the start. But thanks for the lecture. NOT.

[falcon36]

What 2mb has been doing is blindly following an American Dream that would not work. And as he continues to act in a manner that concerns the future of Korea as a country, people are getting more angry. Also, your little statement on the "escalating street theater." the peace protests have been going on peacefully and will be going on peacefully. The point of the matter that you're missing is that the protesters aren't violent. Sure, they may resist, but only to a certain degree.

[tor1976]

Yep uh-uh. Yep. Blah blah blah... the guys was elected. DEAL WITH IT. Conservatives have had to eat their hats for TEN YEARS while commie loving DJ and that worthless leftist maggot No Muhyun handed KJI BILLIONS in financial concessions.

It's well established the commie ultra left can't stomach the existing political system. Why don't you pack your bags, and head north to the worker's paradise. Bye bye!!! KIM JONG IL MANSE!! KIM ILSUNG MANSE!!! BUKCHOSUN MANSE!! Blah blah blah...

[falcon36]

in fact, he's been using these protests to divert media attention and continue with his privatization of gov't duties. In effect, he's been americanizing the Korean economic and government system. Now, I am not saying the American system is bad. It works, in its own twisted, corrupted way, for America. But Korea has a different economy and background. There is absolutely no way that Korean could handle such changes.

[tor1976]

American system's not bad???? The American system is BROKEN. It's DEAD. But that's not AT ISSUE here. At issue here is these PATHETIC demonstrations. While I greatly admire Korean political activism, you have to call a thing by its name and OWN UP and BE A MAN when something's WRONG, and these stupid street protests do NOTHING to address any problems. They're a forum for the violent left to set itself up for anti-government confrontation. I said this 8 weeks ago, and voila... look where we are.

[tor1976]

From the very FIRST day these protests were about one thing, and one thing only: upset the established political order, cause political destabilization and overthrow the government.

Period.

CLASSIC Commie playbook.

Kim Ilsung Manse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Idiots.

[falcon36]

ok... tor1976.. you're not Korean I would assume? That's where the idiotic notion about NK commies instigating this whole thing rises. I would assume you're American, from your obvious lack of understanding, but that would be racist. Unfortunately for you and your little theory of communist aptitude, the whole situation in Korea is not solely about the beef thing. What you, and more Americans don't know, is that 2mb has bee doing some stupid ass things while these protests were in progress

[tor1976]

Uh-uh, yeah blah blah blah... like there aren't one million North Koreans standing on your border. You think they just GAVE UP and retired their entire Cold War apparatus? because of commie-loving DJ and his "sunshine" bs? How UTTERLY naive. It's ASTOUNDING to hear this naive nonsense from Koreans. In a recent survey, 65% of Koreans under 34 said the US was Korea's #1 enemy. LAUGHABLE.

As to 2MB... he was E-L-E-C-T-E-D. DEAL WITH IT. You have existing political institutions. DEAL. WITH. IT.

[falcon36]

Wow, you actually believe your own crap. I'm not going to waste my time on you. It's people like you, old, wasted, mentally deficient Americans that give the US its bad name. I must say, you really help prove the point of the millions of US haters out there. I really can't believe that you think NK has the capability of pulling off such a huge stunt. Just as an fyi, the North Koreans have nothing. NOTHING. They can't even train spies effectively because they're so outdated.

[falcon36]

You know, what you fail to realize is that you aren't responding to any of my arguments. You just continuously spout your little communist rants and expect us to blindly follow in your path. The art of argumentation, my dear imbecile, is not a one sided ordeal. There must be an appropriate amount of give and take. In effect, you must first READ and UNDERSTAND the opposing argument before spouting your own. That way, you don't look like a total dumbass when you speak of irrelevant things.

[falcon36]

Finally, don't even say that I'm not dealing with you because I have nothing to argue. Don't say that I'm avoiding the question because I can easily shut you down with cold hard logic and facts. Point is, I don't feel that I need to waste my time on the inferior.

[tor1976]

You leave no points to address. You're making declarative definitive statements about 2MB as if he's been president for 5 years. It's been hardly 3 MONTHS. The guy's barely left the Blue House twice. Then to come up with this nonsense. In a country of 45 million people, political decisions will be made _that_you will_not_like_. _Your_ position is that _any_ aggrieved group has the RIGHT to sit in the street and cry and pout and whine until THEY get their way. That's flat out ridiculous.

[falcon36]

No, no, I agree. I don't think that every little whiny bastard has the right to come out to the streets and shout for stupidity. What I do say though, is that looking at both 2mb's presidency and life before presidency, he leaves a huge possibility of doing some stupid ass things for the benefit of a small minority. I don't care if he makes decisions that only I don't like. But if he makes decisions that millions, from all classes, don't like, something must be wrong.

[tor1976]

Between 1961 and 2007 Korea experienced a revolutionary hardware upgrade. Korea transformed from a 17th century agricultural economy to a 21st century industrial powerhouse in less than 3 generations.

In our lifetime we will see governments collapse. Are we just going to repeat the same ENDLESS cycle of retarded chimpanzee behavior of violence and counter violence, or are we going to look at these problems and innovate NEW answers.

[tor1976]

Humans have been upgrading hardware for 5000 years... without any serious upgrade in software. We're still same stupid brutal tribal chimps that crawled down from trees 2 million years ago. If we can't start upgrading our MINDS, our THINKING our way of solving problems FAST, these problems will kill all of us. Yankees, balgaengis, every single one of us.

Use that phenomenal energy and Korean spirit and stop thinking of yourself as some tribe, start seeing bigger picture and upgrade your mind.

[falcon36]

You got me. I can't say anything because I fully agree with you on the 'upgrading our minds' part. Of course, I'm still advocating 2mb's utter downfall, but what happens happens. I agree, the populous must now start to think again.

[falcon36]

In reference to John Locke. A government and the people are bound by a social contract. If the government does not protect the life, liberty and property of the people, the people have the right to rebel and change the government. This is embed in the political notion now called democracy. Though I don't believe in it, the nations we live in seem to, so they should fucking abide by it. Since so many seem to think that 2mb is a horrible horrible president, based on his past, I'm standing by them.

[tor1976]

Democracy is a crock of shit. Never worked, never will. US is most dysfunctional f*cked up political system on the planet. Committing illegal acts every day. No one lifts a finger. If 1% of Americans had the energy to be activists like Koreans, none of it would ever happen. While I admire the Korean spirit, I canNOT sign on to the same old commie bullshit. You can't pretend ultra left doesnt attempt to hijack these issues at every chance and the same thing has happened to these protests.

[tor1976]

2MB is in a no-win situation. The Korean economy was set-up to fail long before he became president. Credit crisis will affect every country in the world. The US Federal Reserve Bank is creating money to prop up their financial industry. Asian countries keep buying US debt to support US deficit spending to support their brutally retarded goddamned wars. But the result will be hyper inflation on a global scale. Nothing 2MB can do. Nothing anyone can do. Blaming him for economy is a straw horse.

[tor1976]

2MB is in a no-win situation. The Korean economy was set-up to fail long before he became president. Credit crisis will affect every country in the world. The US Federal Reserve Bank is creating money to prop up their financial industry. Asian countries keep buying US debt to support US deficit spending to support their brutally retarded goddamned wars. But the result will be hyper inflation on a global scale. Nothing 2MB can do. Nothing anyone can do. Blaming him for economy is a straw horse.

[tor1976]

To illustrate, at this VERY MOMENT Hong Kong faces a VERY REAL threat of Avian Flu pandemic. Avian Flu, unlike "mad cow" is not some spurious ridiculous illness that may or may not affect some one, but can escalate into a widespread communicable pandemic. Do you see Hong Kong Chinese massing in the streets screaming for "food safety" like little children????? Of course not.

The issues involved are indeed complex, but NONE of them are seriously resolved with "street theater."

[tor1976]

But you are definitely correct about the beef issue being irrelevant. How RIGHT you are. The ultra left seeks out the "wedge" issues and then attempts to exploit them by pursuing them relentlessly. Say for example.... staging ridiculous street protests over "food safety" for over a month as if the very foundation of the nation depended on it. This is completely laughable.

[tor1976]

You cannot seriously suggest ejecting a sitting president after barely 100-days in office who was popularly elected by 15 million people by staging a series of escalating confrontations designed to provoke a police response with a few hundred of your hell-bent commie comrads is "legitimacy", because of a FOOD issue.

I can't believe Koreans still fall for this crap.

[tor1976]

ANY form of violence, is violence. Pushing mobs of people into police lines and crushing "human walls" becomes a high-tension situation wher tempers will inevitably spill over. This is a calculated response and a clear invitation to escalate.

Non violence is non violence. This is clearly NOT what Korean protestors pursue. You are pursuing confrontations with the police through relentless confrontation.

[tor1976]

Koreans are naive about political extremists. Commies take a "wedge" issue, like Yankee beef, and turn it into a cataclysm. Then they sit in the street and put on theater. "People power...", especially... "in the street..." not like Direct Action or some other more high-minded non violent approach, it's always street theater. The ultimate objective... a direct confrontation with the state. Provoke provoke provoke provoke... VOILA, incident. Hey!!! Look what that cop did to that guy.

[HyunjongKim]

I'm a korean, and living in seoul now, but this isn't right I think. most korean people were going to be crazy about it, but I think now there are less people with candles than when it started.

[key2993]

I don't think so ^^ if you're living in Seoul ,, why don't you go there and have a look? ,, you 'll know that 2mb makes people get more angry by this time and many people's gathering in City hall with candles on their hands . you said that people 's going to crazy..???!! R U family of 2mb?

[HyunjongKim]

first of all, I'm not family of 2mb, and second of all, I just think that It is a national-sized waste, don't you think??

since I'm a korean, this is the most inappropriate situation I've ever seen. What is more, now high-fuel economy and other BAD situation PLUS this beef thing??? common, this is crazy. I don't think you can deny of it.

[key2993]

I can deny! I disagree with your opinion .

having you say that R U rich enough to eat orignal korean beef as 2mb ? I'm sorry , I'm not . that's why i go to City hall with candle to against mad cow disease. do you think 2mb is doing great things ? then that's true, every poilcies which are coming from 2mb involved in mad beef thing but before you say that think about this , you mention about high fuel economy,right ? yeah? you know why that has happened? because of high exchange rate system.

[key2993]

and 2mb uphold this .

Everyday he say somthing as like he understands people's opinion and looks like he will doing something re -nego but every day after, revealed which he told people was lie. he decieved national people by appearing news. that's silly . Who can believe that kind of person ? R U? i'm also really sad about that situation not believing our nation's president !!!

[key2993]

one more thing !! R U really korean? how could you say that since i'm a korean ?

you are korean for sake of god.

[HyunjongKim]

umm.. I'm actually not rich like 2mb, and I'm one of sort of poor people, but If people are worried about mad cow disease ploblem, just don't eat them, then ploblem solved, doesn't it?? another argument about 2mb, how long has 2mb been president? 100days?

I think that's not enough for someone to evaluate.

[HyunjongKim]

umm.. I'm actually not rich like 2mb, and I'm one of sort of poor people, but If people are worried about mad cow disease ploblem, just don't eat them, then ploblem solved, doesn't it?? another argument about 2mb, how long has 2mb been president? 100days?

I think that's not enough for someone to evaluate.

[key2993]

Have you ever seen news recently? if the problem(mad cow)solved with that condition of not eating beef ,I'm not going there to do candlelight demo.one of silly korean said that problem would solved by boiling beef.hahaha I really hope your opinion is right then that's simple,we don't need to candle demo^^but that's impossible you know why?the problem will started in the Restaurant,if you order something and ask them"do you put Dasida when you cook?(Dasida goes every korean food)they'll say yes.

[key2993]

then r u able to ask them where that beef(in dasida) from? that's funny thing .

all beef goes noodles, snacks, jelly, ice cream , milk , even shapoo etc... how can we

live without intake that beef things.

there isn't any choice about that.

And that's right 2mb became a president by wining of the election but voters were less than 50% people of whole Korean. and now that people (who supported him at that time)are stand in the 2mb's back. do you think is that problem with people ?

[key2993]

I don't think so,, then I haven't even thought president must be perfect.

every nation's people believe their president and president shouldn't decieve their nation's people especially poor peple even they are illiterate . he thinks we are foolish and never listens our voice ,just doing what he want although he said sorry to us about he didn't understand and he made mistakes. after he said that he has ordered to the police officer to do strong action to the people(who is doing candle demo)

[key2993]

has he ever tried to have a coversation with us ? no! you know why we want to go to Chung wha dae ? not for killing him , just let him know how we hate that rubbish beef and listen our voice . but he afraid of us ,why ?if president terrified at their nation's people, how could he work for the country?

first of all, we stared the demo peacefully and it has been least 40days but recently it has been changed slightly because 2mb announced people that he will against the demo stronger than now on

[key2993]

and order to arrest people who ever they are . I don't know him but soon or later he might allow to use the shot.

anyway we started with candle,our voice and piece of paper. how about them? using shields and water cannon and fire extinguishers ,and famous place of MB San-sung, you 're living in 2008 ^^. after all of this you became bit violent. if some one hit you on the street without any reason, how will you react? you might hit him or her as 2 times, aren't you ?

[key2993]

have you ever stay whole night with these people and did you get enough opinions from other people of both side ?(people who keep doing candle demo and people who defend cadle demo) then you can say ..

[key2993]

and i don't care about you are that kind of person who doesn't go to Chung hwa dae with candle ,but don't judge people with your view , you just saw a party of them. and do not go there for a fun. I really don't understand why buses are parked the middle of street ..and why containers are there. Is it MB's one of way to have a coversation with people ?

[HyunjongKim]

hey;;calm down,man. I've never thought about that, and I just wanna say is this MADNESS should be done as soon as possible, and clearly I'm not judging korean people with candles like you guys, right??

however this argument went out, I don't wanna argue with you about this situation anymore. since one of poor people(not proud of it), whatever and however the korean economy is gonna be OK is my best hope.

[key2993]

It was a nice coversation ^^. MB should learn how to have a coversation or discussion with people like us. I understand your opinion a bit not all of things. we're not enemy right? that reason of you're not 2MB^^I also hope that bad situations(which involved 2mb)all go away~ and our economy will be gonna fine.

but he's not a korean president anymore since he built MB San Sung. I'm going,today with candles when the sun rise.and I won't reply any more but starter was you! so long~ best wishes~

[HyunjongKim]

AND I hope 2mb can do it now, but there's lots of people with candle,,etc... then how does 2mb have to do with it??

common, we should NOT be against 2mb, we should solve this problem..2mb is one of our team member as korean.

AND I know your whole thought and I respect that, so please Stop replying with it. Goodbye.

[HyunjongKim]

You must be one of korean too. and I totally understand your opinion, like 2mb's doing without other people's opinion-thing, and how awful beef negotiation was, etc...

BUT, I think korean people should give 2mb another chance. 2mb was elected by most korean people, right?? and everybody can't be perfect, sometimes there's mistake, bringing some regret, and other complicated feelings for that. of course the president of korea must be wise, but It's been 100days...

[HyunjongKim]

ABOUT your korean-saying, every korean IS NOT going to chung-wha-dae with candles, right? It's two-way street, and I'm just one of people that ARE NOT going to chung-wha-dae, so not break the police bus, not bringing some pipe and weapon, right?

Actually THAT is crazy. Somewhere in korean, a lot of people is thinking about that violent situation is stupid, and makes general people pissed.

R U one of violent people? I hope you are not. but others without violent is fine, I'm not judging them.

[HyunjongKim]

I just want that this whole complicated situation is done as soon as possible, you got that? I'm sure you're having the same thought as I do.

[Babaldira]

Hey calm down you guys...

[brada11112]

可怜的小国人民，连国旗都要从我们国家的文化中借鉴

[saintends]

I've been in Korea for years & love its people & culture. I consider this my home away from home, but I have to call bullshit. I understand a fear of disease is reasonable, but not when the last case was YEARS ago. I know US beef flies out of military commissaries in Seoul--black marketing has been a problem for years...where has this concern been in those cases? The military eats US beef without a case of mad cow EVER. I don't buy this explanation & irrational fear. We must move forward!!!

[polygamous1]

is more to this demo than beef is the oppression of the Koreans for the last 50 years since the end of hostilities and the right wing us backed government of korea another us demogracy just as real n as free as iraq n agfanistan with the us military present to make sure

u think koreans love you? haha get out n see how long that corrupt regime yuo back will last

what right to interfeere in every country on earth for your own benefit? you don't give a fuck about 5million congolese dead

[saintends]

I don't understand --You berate us for being in a country (which we helped preserve 50 years ago!!) but then chastise that we are not somewhere else helping? Which is it? Our intentions as individuals are honorable even when our government may not seem like it. If you think we come to harm, take a look at Korea in 1950 and look at it now...all of which we have helped the hardworking Koreans to rebuild TOGETHER. Where were you and more than that, what are YOU doing to help the Congolese?

[polygamous1]

i do believe as individuals many american havegood intentions maybe i didn't make that clear if so do appologise BUT the government n the people are unfortunately very different as an individual am afraid is not much i can do to help the congolese or others

the point i made about congo is that the us made a big thing about "liberating" iraq from saddam after Wranda us said NEVER again yet millions died in congo n the us did nothing no oil no reason to not blaming the people

the leaders

[saintends]

Thank you for the apology, and believe me when I say that as a US Soldier myself, we would be in the Congo doing more if we could. Our resources are spread around the world & as a volunteer Army, we always struggle to keep enough people in to do the work; It isn't glamorous & the pay doesn't compare to a civilian job--plus the fear of going to war keeps many from volunteering. We try to be where we are needed, but we can not be everywhere at once.

[tenjintuned]

uhh... the president doesnt eat the beef that he orders from the U.S. why should the citizens

[saintends]

This mob mentality is never productive. You can not say it was peaceful if you were threatening the law enforcement there for your safety. If you are Korean, you know that those law enforcement are just kids doing their two years of compulsory service and must have been scared as hell when it turned violent-- Something the "peaceful" demonstrators started. This whole "protecting us from mad-cow" act is ridiculous and just a front to keep more competitive, better priced and quality US beef out.

[samson1571]

It's not peaceful to climb on government vehicles, ignite things on fire, and to show agression (rocking a police bus). Those bastards deserved to be water cannoned and gassed...

[key2993]

They are policemen they should protect their nations not to use of violence, not to step or hit weak person's head or their body beacuse of only they were there . Even if we climbed on a government vihicle illegally,we did do anything we just wages our nationa's flag. we just wanted to go to White house to raise our voice to 2Mb and let him know what we want .

[key2993]

how could you said that the word "deserved " you may that kind of person who would kill human beacause of steal a piece of bread. if you were in there don't say !!

[soulhound]

Are you crazy those guys climb up the riot police vehicle and Saying peaceful protest must not be interrupted. Peaceful? well that word sort of flied out of your dictionary once you let go of the candles.

[oshcj3]

2MB(Korea President) said "It's little possibility to mad cow disease infection."

But we just hate the "little possibility"