Thousands of people from a rural part of South Korea staged a protest in Seoul on Thursday against what they called a watered-down version of a government plan to move the administrative capital to their region. Debate on the controversial plan is heating up again three months after the Constitutional Court struck down as unlawful the $45-billion plan to move the capital away from crowded Seoul, home to more than a fifth of the country's 48 million people.
"We solemnly swear to fight until the original plan is restored," said Han Chang-sook, one of the local leaders from Chungchong provinces speaking at the rally. Organisers said 15,000 people took part but police put the figure at about 8,000.
The protesters occupied a stretch of a main street in a thriving downtown district in Seoul, stopping traffic and vowing never to be sacrificed again for politics.
The presidential office, the high courts and the legislature would remain in Seoul. Construction would begin in 2007 just before the next presidential election campaign begins.
Comments
Comments are closed.