Korean Job Discussion Forums

[hellofaniceguy]

Strange. Living in korea, one learns something new everyday about koreans. You te me in what other advanced nation in this world, would you have the Govenor beaten by a mob of angry citizens and have your car burned! Yet, the two korean English newspapers, (Herald/Times) have nothing on it in today's edition! The "Digital Chosunilbo" does as does the"Wall Street Journal," and CNN. Anyway, the Buan Govenor is beaten almost to death, 1200 riot cops on the scene, the cops could not enter the Buddist Temple where the beating took place and "save" the Govenor because the Monks would not give permission for the cops to enter the Temple! Am I missing something here!?!? The Govenor is beaten and the cops stand by!?! So I guess a foreigner has a snowballs chance in hell of being saved by the cops if beaten by a mob!

[steroidmaximus]

[On the other hand]

Err, since this apparently has yet to be covered in any English language media, does anyone know why the guy was beaten?

[Tiger Beer]

Buan Governor Beaten Up by Protesters
by Kim Chang-kon ([email protected])

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200309/200309080023.html

A group of demonstrators in the North Jeolla province country of Buan who oppose the plan to construct a radioactive waste treatment facility there turned violent Monday, assaulting the county governor and setting his car on fire. The attack took place at a Buddhist temple.
Police said that the governor, Kim Jong-kyu, went to Temple Naeso at 11:30 a.m., and when he tried to leave a few hours later he was blocked by about 400 Buan residents. The protesters forced him to talk to them in front of the temple�s main hall.

During the conversation, the residents demanded that Kim cancel the plan to host the facility in their county. But as Kim continuously refused, scores of people suddenly fell on him and beat him all over for about 10 minutes, inflicting severe injuries on him.

Some plainclothes policemen and assistants of the governor tried to stop the attackers, but they were overwhelmed. Then some angry residents overturned Kim�s car and set it on fire. The worst of the attack took place at 4:20 p.m.

Getting a tip that Governor Kim would visit the temple that day, Buan residents began to gather at the place from 10:40 a.m. and the number reached 700 by 5 p.m. Before the attack, they held a sit-in demonstration, shouting slogans like �Cancel the radioactive waste treatment facility plan!� and �Down with Kim Jong-kyu!�

By 3 p.m., while having talks with residents, Kim took a loudspeaker and said, �Go ahead and throw stones at me, I can take it." Some protesters began to hurl rocks.

Police deployed some 1,300 riot police in front of the temple, but could not enter the temple grounds without the temple�s permission. The protesters threatened to set fire to the temple buildings if the police entered.

Kim suffered a serious injury, but transferring him to a hospital was delayed for some time as the ambulance's arrival was delayed due to the protesting crowds.

[The Lemon]

Right- Buan, not Busan.

Gotta love these Cholla-do'ers!

[Son Deureo!]

[whatthefunk]

[BTM]

Ah, democracy in action! Now that's a recall vote!

[Seoultrader]

Actually, the Times mentioned it (with pic too) as well in their online edition (print deadline missed?).

The guy looked to be in bad shape on the stretcher. Not a good way to lobby for a cause, huh...

[weatherman]

Not to defend, but I believe that Korea under the kings, had a long tradition of running local governers out of office. Farmers uprisings are pretty common in the days of lore. I see this as the same. It is stupid because it happened now, in the modern era, but that is how things worked before, and stupidly Koreans still try to use them today. Though the governer was pretty stupid to ask for stones. But that doesn't change a thing and the farmers need some a s s kicking now..