South Korea- demo

Thousands stage anti-government rally in South Korea

Article published on the 2009-06-10 Latest update 2009-06-10 15:12 TU

Demonstrators call for the resignation of South Korean president Lee Myung-Bak during a 12,000-strong anti-government rally at a Seoul plaza on Wednesday.
Photo: Reuters/Jo Yong-Hak

Protesters have turned out in the thousands on the 22nd anniversary of a pro-democracy uprising to demand the resignation of South Korean president Lee Mying-Bak.

Led by opposition parties, the rally - in the same Seoul plaza where an uprising paved the way for democracy in 1987 - drew a crowd of more than 12,000 demonstrators wielding anti-government placards.

Riot police were part of a 15,000-strong force deployed to the demonstration, which had been officially outlawed, but the event remained peaceful.

The president is accused of ordering a politically motivated corruption investigation of former president Roh Moo-Hyun, who jumped to his death on 23 May. 

There was a widespread outpouring of grief following the suicide of Roh, a liberal, who left office in 2008. His death ignited a political row between the liberals and the conservatives.

Marking the anniversary of the uprising, which ended decades of military-backed rule, Lee reacted to the protests, saying that democracy should not be abused by those with "selfish interests"