Students Clash With Police in Korean Protest

Police and thousands of anti-government protesters clashed at a monument and on 18 college campuses today, the 25th anniversary of a student-led uprising that led to the downfall of the Syngman Rhee government.

Students threw stones, torches and bottle bombs in attempts to break through police cordons just outside campuses, witnesses said. The Yonhap news agency said demonstrations were reported on 18 campuses in Seoul.

Almost 6,000 slogan-chanting people, mostly students, tried to march near a memorial tower and cemetery in northern Seoul which contains the graves of more than 180 students killed during the 1960 uprising, witnesses said.

Tear Gas Fired

They said the demonstrators, carrying a huge placard that said “Hammer of Democracy Down on the Stronghold of Dictatorship,” marched about 800 yards from the tower toward streets until police fired tear gas to disperse them.

Witnesses said the protesters shouted slogans and scattered leaflets opposing the planned visit to Washington by President Chun Doo Hwan for talks with President Reagan. Chun is scheduled to leave for Washington next Wednesday.

Protesters also called for an end to “military dictatorship” and for the release of imprisoned students and others accused of anti-government activities, the witnesses said.

At least 100 young people were seen being taken away by police. No serious injuries were reported.

Witnesses said more than 1,500 demonstrators at Yonsei University battled police firing tear gas. The hour and a half of fighting broke out when the students tried to march into the streets in western Seoul.

The students threw stones and torches in an effort to break through the police cordon just outside the main gate but the police lines held, the witnesses said.