Firebomb Hits South Korean Consulate

A firebomb was tossed through a window of the South Korean Consulate early Friday, a day before the scheduled arrival of President Roh Tae Woo, investigators said.

The fire was confined to a restroom in the consulate, located in the Presidio Heights area, and resulted in about $5,000 damage, Fire Department arson investigators said.

“Someone was awakened by the sound of breaking glass and was able to put out the fire using a fire extinguisher,” FBI spokeswoman Barbara Madden said.

A heavy metal object was thrown through another window of the building, Madden said. The incidents occurred about 3 a.m.

Roh plans to spend the weekend here, although not at the consulate, before going to Washington for talks with President Bush. On Saturday, he is to give a speech at a Hoover Institution luncheon at Stanford University.

A dissident group called Young Koreans United has announced plans to hold demonstrations outside the downtown San Francisco hotel where Roh will be staying, spokesman Minn Chung said.

Roh’s government has been the target of frequent student protests at home.