Thousands of Protesters in S. Korea Seized

Crowds chanting “Democracy!” swept through city streets today, fighting police with firebombs and fists in the largest anti-government protest since President Chun Doo Hwan took power in 1980.

Tens of thousands of protesters in Seoul and at least 19 other cities attacked government buildings and police stations, ripped up sidewalks for ammunition, beat policemen and tore off their uniforms.

Hundreds of people were injured and thousands more arrested, but police would not give definite figures. Korean Broadcasting System, the state-run network, said about 2,000 people were arrested, but the figure appeared to be low.

Many onlookers and motorists cheered the protesters, who timed their street demonstrations to coincide with a meeting of Chun’s political party that endorsed the president’s chosen successor.

‘Why Don’t You Kill Me?’

“Kill me! Why don’t you kill me?” an elderly man screamed as he tried to hurl himself against a line of riot police wearing green combat uniforms and black-visored helmets.

Outraged bystanders caught in the fights yelled abuse at police, and crowds cheered when women attempted to slap officers. “Look at what they are doing to our mothers!” a man shouted.

Running battles raged through the broad streets of Seoul’s main shopping and business districts, on the edge of the government ministry area and around the main hotels patronized by Westerners.

There were hand-to-hand clashes with fists and clubs. Several police units were overrun by hordes of protesters shouting “Down with the military dictatorship!”

Clashes After Midnight

Police were visibly shaken when many onlookers cheered the protesters or joined them, and motorists honked their horns in support of the uprising. Street battles lasted several hours in Seoul, and clashes still were reported after midnight.

Observers said it was the greatest outpouring of opposition to Chun’s Administration since he assumed power, as an army general, after the assassination of President Park Chung Hee.

Opposition groups had called for nationwide protest to demand that the ruling Democratic Justice Party cancel its convention. The meeting was held, and the party accepted Chun’s choice of close political ally Roh Tae Woo, also a former general, to succeed him in February.

Roh praised Chun and promised to continue his authoritarian policies, warning the opposition: “Violence only breeds violence.”