Thousands Battle Police in Protests Across S. Korea

Thousands of protesters battled riot police in Seoul and at least four other cities today after the government banned memorial rallies for a striking worker killed in an earlier clash.

“Down with the military dictatorship of murder and violence!” shouted students, workers and dissidents as they hurled rocks, bricks and firebombs at police in the worst political violence since massive anti-government riots in June. Police fired tear gas.

Thousands of people ran for cover as fighting erupted in streets packed with rush-hour traffic in the Korean capital. Scores of people were injured and hundreds were arrested, but authorities declined to release figures.

Port Workers Protest

In the southern port city of Kwangju, about 1,000 workers began a sit-in protest at the big Daewoo shipyard today after police intercepted their funeral procession for Lee Suk Kyu, killed Aug. 22 in a clash between police and strikers.

Police said they acted at the request of the parents of Lee, 21, a shipyard worker. Union leaders and political dissidents, ignoring his family’s desire for a quiet funeral, sought to make Lee a symbol of nationwide labor protest and were taking him for burial to a “martyrs’ cemetery” in Kwangju, scene of a bloody anti-government revolt in 1980.

The 25-vehicle cortege was approaching the village of Sinwol, near the coastal town of Kosong, when it was blocked by a truck parked across the narrow country road.

As the motorcade came to a halt, about 2,000 riot police swept down from the wooded hills on either side. A detachment took charge of the flower-bedecked hearse and drove it away.

Delivered for Burial

State radio said later the body had been delivered to the Lee family for burial in their hometown.

In Seoul, protesters in the working class district of Yongdongpo clashed with police as soon as the dissidents began yelling anti-government slogans.

“We want revenge!” shouted masked protesters bearing wooden sticks and iron bars as they blocked streets and fought police.

Black armored cars and at least 5,000 riot police in combat fatigues and helmets broke up the crowds with tear gas.

Martial arts squads of police charged the crowds, hitting out with fists and feet. Police dragged protesters away, and detainees were seen being beaten by officers.

Struggle in Pusan

In the southern port city of Pusan, more than 1,000 people battled 2,500 police after barricading a street near the city’s main railway station.

About 60 people were arrested when 1,000 students and workers staged hit-and-run clashes with riot police in the port of Inchon, west of Seoul.

Clashes were also reported in Taejon and Chunchon.

The Labor Ministry reported 97 new strikes, increasing the total to 635. South Korea has been hit by 2,490 strikes since June by workers demanding higher wages and greater rights after years of government-enforced labor discipline that banned strikes.