2008 is a very special year for Korea. New president and new government were elected and there is a big trade deal with the United States, the FTA. I would rather talk about the demonstration and government’s reaction to this rather than talking about the controversies. When the government announced that Korea will import American beef, people started to worry because some American beef was potentially infected with Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease. Because of the government’s strict position that we will import those cows, people started to gather to protest. As time went by, the demonstrations got much bigger. Many people gathered with candles and made some speeches to the government. The police started to clampdown on the demonstrators, trying to dismiss the crowd. this is, of course, nonsence because in 2002, there was also a big demonstration opposing the American army, the government said that it was Ok, but this time, it’s a demonstration opposing to the government, so they say it’s illegal. As the demonstration continues, the crackdown became violent. The police used water canons to regulate people. Some people got hurt, and there was a rumor that a high school girl got blinded by the water canons. There is also a flim of a girl was kicked in the head by the police.
Some people say that this demonstration and suppressing is like 70’s and 80’s situation of Korea. I think that many demonstrators nowadays go to demonstrations not for reject importing American cows but to pull down Mr. Lee’s government. People should be more rational. It’s same for the police. They are exist to protect the people, not for themselves. The first thing they have to consider is their safety and other people’s convenience. The politicians also has to consider people’s opinion and find a new solution. If the government, demonstrators and the police take a one step forward to each other, this can be a chance not a crisis.
