25,000 Students Bar Access to S. Korea Campus

More than 25,000 students shouting anti-government and anti-U.S. slogans barricaded the entrances to a university campus Saturday, and a student injured trying to reach the protest later died.

As news of the student’s death spread, thousands of riot police outside the campus of Chonnam University withdrew, apparently to avoid provoking protesters.

Police officials said Shin Jang Ho, 21, a sophomore at Daeyu Vocational College in Seoul, died in a hospital of massive head injuries suffered as he jumped off a moving train on the outskirts of the city.

Shin was among several hundred students who jumped to avoid being arrested at the Kwangju railway station. Police were checking the identities of all students arriving in Kwangju.

About 3,500 police supported by armored tear-gas vans surrounded the sprawling Chonnam campus earlier in the day and searched all visitors. About 230 students were arrested, police said.

Kwangju police chief Paek Hyung Jo said riot police were withdrawn to avoid “unexpected incidents.” He did not elaborate, but deaths of radical students have triggered massive demonstrations in the past when students felt police were to blame.

About 7,000 people rioted in the streets of this city Friday, the 10th anniversary of a pro-democracy revolt that was crushed by the military. At least 200 civilians were killed in the 10-day uprising.