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C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 001122 

SIPDIS 
E.O. 12958: DECL: AFTER KOREAN REUNIFICATION

TAGS: PGOV PREL ETRD EAGR KS

SUBJECT: PROTESTS IN SEOUL BECOME MORE FLUID 
Classified By: Amb. Alexander Vershbow.  Reasons 1.4(b/d) 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Protestors turned out in force over the

weekend following the announcement by the Agriculture

Minister on the evening of May 29 that Korea would shortly

resume quarantine inspections on U.S. beef as a first step to

reopening the market.  Although there had been a string of

candlelight vigils in Seoul beginning in early May, after the

beef agreement was reached in April on the eve of President

Lee’s visit to Camp David, the vigils have shifted to active

protests, fueled by police crackdowns and arrests of

“illegal” protestors.  As the focus of the protests expanded

beyond concerns about U.S. beef to include general resentment

for President Lee and his perceived method of “bulldozing”

policies into action, the public responded with calls for the

President’s impeachment and demanded the resignation of

several cabinet ministers.  Images and video captured at the

scene of confrontation between police and protestors were

quickly posted on the Internet, thereby adding more fuel to

the fire of growing discontent among Koreans.  Groups of

varying size are likely to continue to organize in the coming

days despite the fact that President Lee is expected any day

to fire several ministers at the core of the policies in

question.  Meanwhile, the President’s support continues to

erode as his poll numbers are down to 21 percent.  End

Summary. 
——————————————— —-

PROTESTORS FACE WATER CANNONS AS TENSIONS ELEVATE

——————————————— —- 
¶2. (SBU) After almost four weeks of candlelight vigils to

protest the reopening of Korea to U.S. beef imports, the once

peaceful protests have taken a turn toward violence and

aggression.  On May 24, police began arresting protestors

after the government declared the protests “illegal.”  As

reports of the arrests spread via mobile phone text messages

and were splashed across Korean web sites, public resentment

of President Lee and his “bulldozer” style flared up.  On the

evening of May 31, the Korea National Police (KNP) estimated

that 40,000 protestors (organizers claimed up to 100,000

participated) rallied at Seoul Plaza to protest not just the

reopening of the Korean market to American beef, but

President Lee and his perceived lack of concern for public

opinion. 
¶3. (SBU) The large group of protestors represented a

cross-section of Korean society including college students,

middle-aged office workers, and even young families with

children in tow.  As the night wore on, several groups of

protestors broke off from the rally at Seoul Plaza and made

their way toward the Blue House, located about four blocks

away.  The KNP’s force of young riot police repelled the

groups of protestors using their batons and shields.

Additionally, police used water cannons to turn away the

crowds for the first time since the beef protests began in

early May.  (Note: The media reported that this was the 24th

vigil since the beef deal was concluded on April 18.  End

Note).  The police were effective in preventing the crowds

from getting too close to the Blue House, but the public was

further outraged at the reported injuries resulting from the

more aggressive police tactics.  Reports indicate that about

100 demonstrators and 40 riot police were injured during the

clashes.  In total, 516 people were arrested (15 were

released, 25 received a preliminary judgment, 399 were booked

without physical detention and 77 people are under

investigation) over the weekend the majority during Saturday

night’s rally. 
———————

ANTI-U.S. OR ANTI-MB?

——————— 
¶4. (SBU) The string of rallies against the importation of

U.S. beef appear to have morphed into a broader rally against

the new ROKG Administration and its way of doing business.

Although beef safety is still the main thrust of concern,

additional issues have surfaced as Koreans demonstrate their

pent-up emotion and general lack of satisfaction with the

direction of the new government.  Protestors carried a

variety of signs during the protest on Saturday, including

signs with references to the Proliferation Security

Initiative (PSI), the Grand Canal project, education reform,

privatization of electric companies, and the gap between rich

and poor.  There were larger numbers of

professionally-printed signs that simply said “Lee Myung-bak

OUT,” with similar signs portraying the President as a rat

and calling for his impeachment.  Others portrayed a shift

from mad cow disease to other issues such as “Mad Cow, Mad

Education” or “Cows are Mad. MB is Mad.”  There was also a

large group of protestors who donned flame-shaped hats (Note:

The flame is a symbol of anger in Korea) that said “I am

angry because of MB.”  These hats were provided by the

progressive NGO People’s Solidarity for Participatory

Democracy (PSPD), a group that was active in protesting OPCON

transfer, KORUS FTA, relocation of USFK to Pyeongtaek, and

other key U.S. initiatives in Korea. 
¶5. (SBU) Online blogs and news sites follow a similar tack.

An article posted on OhMy News said that “Koreans are not

portraying the United States as the culprit of the dispute.

Instead, all fingers are pointing at one man: President Lee.”

 A related article posted on one of Korea’s largest Internet

portal sites under the title “It is no longer just about

beef” said that Koreans are protesting President Lee’s

efforts to turn Korea into a “hyper-capitalist state” in a

short period of time, citing the Grand Canal project and the

privatization of key infrastructure as some of the areas of

concern. 
————

LATEST POLLS

———— 
¶6. (U) In a Gallup poll released on June 3 (100 days into

Lee’s presidency), results showed that 68.9 percent

disapproved of the President with 3.8 percent saying his

performance was average and only 21.2 percent approved of his

performance.  On the brighter side, 51 percent said they

expect the President Lee to do better in the future.  21.3

percent of respondents identified the root of their

discontent as President Lee’s lack of attention to public

opinion and 16.2 percent cited rising prices.  The survey was

conducted on May 31 before the latest round of violent

protests. 
——-

COMMENT

——- 
¶7. (C) Despite earlier hopes that the vigils and

demonstrations would subside with the conclusion of the 17th

National Assembly on May 24, an aggressive crackdown on the

protestors has only stirred more anger among Koreans.  While

it appears that beef is no longer the only reason for the

vigils and protests, it remains the central example of

President Lee’s perceived lack of attention to his

constituents and therefore the Korean public will continue to

demand action to resolve the beef issue.  Even if President

Lee moves forward with his expected cabinet shuffle, protests

against U.S. beef are likely to continue until Koreans feel

that their President hears their concerns and addresses their

demand not to import beef from cattle aged more than 30

months.

VERSHBOW