Beef protest continues with largest candlelight demonstration yet

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by Orchid | Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Sea of people…80,000 or 500,000?

This is one awesome photo, capturing the scene at the largest candlelight demonstration yet against the import of U.S. beef in South Korea on June 10. Hundreds of thousands of protesters over 80 cities nationwide gathered in Seoul. Reports say it was 80,000 people, but organizers say in actual fact, 500,000 turned up.

Now is it just a beef protest or something more?

Source: Digital Chosunilbo

Tags: About Korea

Photomofo

wow, awesome photo!
Anonymous

….well, at least some of the most beautiful photos of candlelight protests are being captured. Otherwise, my heart wearies of all this beef protesting is it even going anywhere?
kpop-rubba

i have a feeling this is about something other than just beef
Anonymous

I haven’t read up on this so I’m naiive about the situation. But yeah, I’ve been thinking that’s it’s beyond the beef issue…could be something anti-American..heheh or criticism towards their government who isn’t reliable nor concerning towards the needs of their citizens. You’d think they would have such a protest for anti-nuclear weapons or anti-war or anti-poverty, pro-peace, anti-pollution. Yeah, it’s definitely more than just meat. There hasn’t been recent cases of mad-cow in the US, right? SO what’s the big deal? Unless they are against the way cows are treated, the genetic alterations, the chemicals and hormones given to cows?…How’s the cow raising in Korea? Do they not have sufficient space, environment, and supplies to raise enough cattle there?
Anonymous

@kpop-rubba
Yeah…I imagine you’re quite right.

In some ways it’s good that Korean citizens are making it clear in no uncertain terms that things can’t be done by the Korea gov “without the people’s consent.” To me, it’s rather clear that all this tension has been brewing in Korea for quite some time. The K-pres’ alleged appointment of rich supporters to positions of power and tendency to make big decisions without asking for public opinion have soured him in the public eye – all within a mere 4 months. To top all this off, the Korean economy is still down and gas prices have taken another leap….all of which have undoubtedly shortened the people’s fuse. I think that Pres’ lifting of the US beef ban was simply the spark that set this all off – which is unfortunate because this has given all this protesting a distinct anti-American overtone….it’s even popping up the front page of American newspapers now.
Anonymous

Woah, the picture is amazing..Seriously, Malaysian should do the same thing for the increasing price of oil..
giddygirl108

I’m an American and though I haven’t really been following this issue, it is definitely more than beef. There has not been an outbreak of Mad Cow for so long now. I read a soompi blog the other day and the author of it (who is an American teaching English in South Korea) said that her co-workers thought that Americans lived in fear of Mad Cow on a daily basis. She had to convince them that she’s been eating American beef for years and no one’s worried about it over here (which is, of course, very true). It’s wonderful that the Korean people are rallying together for a cause but about American beef? The Korean media should accurately portray the issue at hand so that the Korean people can be better informed about the specific details and issues at hand.
Anonymous

hopefully they will get what they want soon cuz that is A LOT of people
Pully

who got this shoot ? Awesome photo.
Liz

Wow, the picture is fantastic! It’s giving me goosebumps!

The President of Korea is having it tough, huh? Very much like our own Malaysian PM…it ain’t easy governing a country in difficult and demanding times like this .
JLo

Awesome Picture!

On another note. In reference to giddygirl108′s comment I also really want to know what a Korean thinks about American Beef first hand rather than from a newspaper because I wonder if perhaps they are being mislead in some way. Seriously a huge candlelight demonstration for beef? There has got to be something more to it than what I am reading.
Anonymous

this picture is awesome but yet very disturbing. i totally think south koreans are mis-informed about american beef and their media is feeding the frenzy with mis-leading videos and images. HOWEVER, i think it obviously has blown up to become something more than just a protest against american beef…it’s like the country is throwing a big ol’ party! i know that many people are serious about this protest and have gotten hurt from the police beat-downs but man, i sure did see a bunch of smiling, happy people in a lot of other photos.
Anonymous

yeah american beef is safe no one in america has reported to have been infected by mad cow disease… i know all that! americans eat beef 24 month and less did you know that????? whatever screw all that aside. why is the president making decisions on his own? isn’t he to be a servant of the people? does he think he’s a king or something? boot his ass out of government and deport him back to japan where his heart is
kpop-rubba

Jeez even as an American (eventhough I do not eat beef) I never think that beef is tainted. Wasn’t there a Mad Cow disease beef scare for like a second years ago and turns out the cow was from Canada? England is the one that had all the mad cow outbreaks, maybe they’re confused?

Well Korea did pass that free trade agreement with the US. Maybe they’re mad that their own government is completely ignoring their concerns! Their prez always seemed shady to me. If he just can’t appease his people with this one minor thing what is he gonna do if bigger issues (that actually are a threat) arise? Maybe it’s kinda like the straw that’s breaking the camel’s back as far as Korean/US foreign relations go.
Anonymous

I think what most people do not know is that the U.S. is shipping beef that has been processed/packaged from 30 months ago! Almost all other countries that currently have beef imports from the U.S. are under 30 months of age. Koreans are definitely protesting the fact that the President has quickly agreed to such an ridiculous negotiation. Why should Korea get the stale stuff while others wouldn’t even touch it? No wonder they’re pissed!
Anonymous

Im a korean and i’m very disappointed. The citizens don’t really understand the situation. although i’m only 14 years old and living in a different country than korea i have a brief understanding of the situation at hand. The candlelight demonstration isn’t about anti american. it is just the stupidity of the ignorant citizens of korea. they don’t know that if we decide not to import US beef then the US will stop importing our cars, electronics and movies. The US is one of our biggest exporter and therefor we have no choice. If we do as the people of korea want us to then our economy will be destroyed. The people need to show more consideration to the government. They complain that the police are arresting people but they have no consideration for the people in the government that are constantly resigns, ie, the fucking PRime minister.

The reason there are a lot of young teenagers and university students rioting is because they want to skip school and this is a perfect excuse to skip out.

But there has been cows spotted in the US that carry the mad cow disease that can’t walk or are very sick that they import to less economically developed countries such as South korea. I understand why the people are so pissed but this has gone way too far.

more importantly i want people to know that not all of the korean population stupid.
Anonymous

Nice photo! Well, my ex-gf lives in that area of the city, and she is seeing the protests first hand from her apartment. The korean media only shows the world images of police arresting and beating protesters. She says that the media is choosing to not show images of why they are being beaten or arrested… The police are being attacked with rocks and having irritants thrown into their faces. Buses have been overturned, and policemen injured. One protester bit the finger off of a policeman. That policeman will never be the same again. Riot police are all young Korean males, serving their mandatory military duty. These kids just want to get it over with so they can go to college or start their working careers. They are often fresh out of high school, and unlike American military recruits, aren’t the trash of society that can’t cut it in college. Protestors even claim that the police where throwing rocks at them, and showed the media injuries to the BACK OF THEIR HEADS. Obviously, Korean protestors need to learn to throw rocks better, because they are hitting their own guys in front of them!

Members of the media have been arrested for misreporting the news to incite this disturbance. The media has outright lied to the people, and are responsible for any injuries or deaths due to these lies. The stupid masses listened only to the lies, and didn’t even bother to listen to the news that the liars were arrested for making up stuff to piss off everyone. Maybe someone should start a fake story in US that tainted Kimchee killed a kid and get people to protest for the ban of Kimchee because its dangerous. Lets see how the Koreans react then! Anyways, the Korean media is filled with North Korean sympathizers, Communists, radicals, religious fanatics, Anti-Americans, and racists. They use the hysterical stupid masses in Korea for their own political agenda and make up fake news to achieve their goals. These people should be held fully accountable for their deception, and the damage it causes to peoples’ lives. This is most certainly not about beef. Did people protest like this when Chinese toothpaste was found to be tainted? Or pet food? No. Because the Korean media hates US and Japan, and not China. North Korean sympathizers controlling the South Korean media will never incite a riot against their allies, the Chinese.
Anonymous

Well, it’s been months since the protests, and US beef is selling well again. What a useless waste of blood, sweat, and tears (and money!)these protests have been, all because of the press and the ignorant masses. And nothing has changed–I can guarantee that something similar will happen here in Korea in the next few years. It’s almost like it’s in their DNA…

K-popped! Passionate about Korean pop culture

Beef protest continues with largest candlelight demonstration yet

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