Seoul Protests Spark Debate over Public Authority
On Nov. 14, thousands of protesters and police clashed during a powerful demonstration near Seoul’s City Hall that called for President Park Geun Hye’s resignation. Protesters had gathered in response to Park’s decision to mandate government-issued textbooks. Both activists and authorities suffered injuries, which spurred controversy over whether both sides used excessive force during the protest.
A video capturing a 69-year-old man being shot down by powerful water cannon went viral and ignited the controversy. Activists argued that the man was unarmed and was overwhelmed by water cannons for over 20 seconds even after he had been put to the ground. They also raised concerns that the police did not issue prior warnings and did not adhere to the guidelines regarding the use of water cannons.
The man in the video was hospitalized immediately after suffering a concussion from the collapse. Despite a successful surgery, he remains unconscious and his supporters have gathered in a peaceful march to show their solidarity.
Many citizens also expressed sympathy with the authorities in the aftermath of the protest. Footage of protesters swinging their steel pipes and throwing steel ladders against police blockade has been leaked and been used to justify the use of water cannons. The clip also showed masked men trying to light up incendiaries and violently overthrowing police authorities on top of the bus blockade. A total of 113 policemen were injured and 50 police buses were destroyed in this demonstration.
“I do not understand how one can slam down someone’s else’s son with such brutal force.,” said Kim Moo Sung, leader of the ruling Saenuri Party.
Kim’s remark sheds light on the fact that many of the riot police were young men drafted into the police in order to perform their 21 months of mandatory military service. While these men chose to serve as auxiliary police over the three branches of the military, their assignment as riot police was one due to chance.
It has been quite common throughout Korean history for activists to gather in the heart of the the capital, especially after the country’s transition to a democratic regime. Thousands of citizens came together in a candle-lighting demonstration following the death of two young girls who were crushed by an American tank in 2002. Pickets against US beef imports as part of a Korea-US Free Trade Agreement in the summer of 2008 also mark one of the longest, bloodiest, and infamous demonstrations in 21st century Korea.
Because of the development of new technologies and social media, protests today, unlike past ones, also extend to the online realm where people more easily make inflammatory comments. Popular comments on media coverage of Saturday’s protest show that citizens are using online forums to debate whether the use of water cannons was a response to flying pipelines and ladders or a preemptive strike.Those who endorse the demonstrators are labeled as communist-sympathizers while ones who attribute Saturday’s tragedy to violent nature of the protest itself are treated as radical conservatives. Clearly, the issue has begun to cause national divides.
In light of these protests, a fierce debate in the National Assembly is expected over enhancing police authority in the future. The opposing New Political Alliance for Democracy vowed to cut budgets for purchasing new police buses and maintaining water cannons. Members of Saenuri Party consistently draw comparisons with America regarding the effectiveness of suppressing a violent demonstration.
“I classify the blatant violence exerted to the police in last week’s rally as a terror on public authority,” Mr. Kim said.