U.S. Puts a Korean District Off Limits to Stem Violence
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SEOUL — U.S. officials put a popular entertainment and disco district in Seoul off limits to American personnel Thursday in an attempt to stem anti-American violence and protect U.S. soldiers.
A statement by the U.S. 8th Army for the 43,800 U.S. troops, thousands of civilian employees and their dependents in South Korea said the Itaewon entertainment district would be off limits from midnight until 5 a.m., effective today.
Itaewon is a shopping and entertainment area several city blocks long near the 8th Army headquarters. Foreign tourists, shoppers and U.S. military personnel shop there by day, and at night its neon-lit bars and discos draw hundreds of young Koreans as well.
The announcement apparently was a move to avoid clashes between South Korean civilians and American soldiers who frequent late-night bars and entertainment establishments.
Anti-American feeling is strong here, especially among radicals and dissidents who have demanded the withdrawal of U.S. troops, contending that their presence hinders unification of South Korea with Communist North Korea.
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