S. Korean Students Stage Sit-in at U.S. Library

Dozens of Korean students barricaded themselves inside a U.S. Information Service library in downtown Seoul on Thursday to protest American support for the government of President Chun Doo Hwan. U.S. diplomats negotiated with them Thursday night to try to end the sit-in.

The takeover by 50 to 100 people marks the first time in recent months that radical students have made a U.S. facility a target in their continuing confrontation with Chun’s five-year-old government. Demonstrations and clashes with police have accelerated in past weeks.

Several hundred riot police stood guard outside the building Thursday as the students, who U.S. officials said did not appear to be armed, displayed posters from windows and attempted to drop leaflets to passers-by. The students did not harm anyone or take any hostages, U.S. officials said.

U.S. diplomats said they had told the police to stay out. No force will be used, one American said, unless the situation changes drastically and force is needed to save lives. “I foresee a long, drawn-out siege,” the official said.

‘The Old USIS Dilemma’

Other than guards, there is no real security protection at the gray four-story building, which also houses USIS administrative offices that the students did not occupy.

“It’s the old USIS dilemma,” an American official said. “They’re there to serve the public and you have to give access to the public.”

Initial reports said the group had distracted police guards posted outside by throwing rocks and at least one Molotov cocktail shortly after noon Thursday and then rushed up a staircase to the library, which is on the second floor.

However, U.S. officials here said Thursday night that there had been no violence. The students said they were carrying poison pills and might use them if the police were called in.

U.S. officials characterized the protest as a “sit-down strike.”