Some 4,000 people marched in the streets here Saturday urging the government to scrap free trade talks with the United States. The protest, led by public sector workers and school teachers, came ahead of mass rallies called by activists to coincide with the second round of negotiations on a free-trade agreement (FTA) to be held in Seoul from Tuesday.
Seoul has warned it would not tolerate violent protests during negotiations on the FTA, which is strongly opposed by labour groups. The protestors wore red headbands and carried banners, including one that read "Down with FTA." They walked two kilometres (1.25 miles) along downtown Chongro Street before holding a sit-in on the pavement some 300 meters (1,000 feet) away from a complex of government buildings.
Some 1,000 riot police stood guard at street corners and nearby intersections but they did not attempt to break up the largely peaceful protest. An umbrella anti-FTA group, which is supported by farmers, labour unions and anti-US activists, has rejected government warnings and pledged to hold daily protests throughout the talks which last until Friday. The militant Korean Confederation of Trade UUnions, which has some 800,00 members, called a one-day strike Wednesday to protest the FTA.
Activists say the FTA would only spread poverty and expand the gap between the rich and poor while benefiting foreign capitalists by opening markets to low-priced imports and making it easier for companies to fire unionised workers. But supporters counter that an FTA would boost growth, create jobs and improve ties with the United States.