Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nuthatch]

Five Killed In South Korea During Protest: Report

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/01/19/world/international-us-korea-fire.html

[cheolsu]

I was there watching the scene for an hour, not knowing what it was. I did figure out, however, that it had to do with the block of abandoned, demolished buildings. You can get here if you walk straight down the road from the steps at Yongsan station. I've never seen so many riot cops in my life, and it was scary. I waited and waited for something to happen, but then figured that nothing was going to happen. It's terrible to hear that someone got killed.

[drunkenfud]

So, if I read this correctly, the protesters were on the roof of the building throwing petrol bombs at the police below...

How does one go about nominating 5 individuals for Darwin awards?

[RACETRAITOR]

I've been to that area, and it was a lot creepier than most of the other condemned neighbourhoods I've visited. The city (or construction company) hired gangsters to chase away tenants, and one gangster was painting threats inside people's businesses, hinting at castration, hanging, decapitation, dismemberment, etc.

Those residents have my total sympathy. They were up against some extremely sick bastards. I saw some of the worst vandalism by gangsters in all my time visiting places like this.

This is the area.
http://www.daehanmindecline.com/digital/20081116b.html

[bassexpander]

That's how Korea updates its old areas.

We had a similar incident in our neighborhood a year ago. The owners of the building decided to rebuild. The businesses inside refused to leave. Construction workers were met with angry business owners who refused to leave when it was time to tear the buildling down. The mob was sent in. Gangsters scared people away. Saw them myself.

I'd be interested to hear what the full argument was.

Wonder what this situation would be like if the shop owners had guns.

[RACETRAITOR]

Usually people get recompensated when they're evicted. The neighbourhood I'm currently in is about to be mostly torn down (not my home but I'm leaving anyway). A Canadian I know who lives with his wife and kid in the condemned area says they're getting their key money back, and an additional 1.5 million per family member. However, the people protesting in this zone apparently weren't real owners and lost a ton of money.

[cheolsu]

All the press accounts I've read are scant for 5 people being killed in a major city, but that may because of the time (it happened this morning) and language. What I've read is that protesters were not offered compensation and told to leave their homes. It's hard to blame them for doing what they could to make a stand?

Race Traitor, I'd like to talk to you about what you know about the area. Is the email address on Dae Han Min Decline yours?

[bassexpander]

Yes, it would be interesting to know if the people in the area were compensated. When you rent a building, though, you're always going to face the possibility that you may have to relocate one day.

They would certainly have gotten their key money back, at least. Compensation? Hmm.... it would really suck to be some halmony with nothing but the corner store to give you income for living expenses, but if you don't own the building, you've sort of dug your own hole.

[RACETRAITOR]

[Ethan Allen Hawley]

The article says:

"... Dozens of tenants in the largely commercial Yongsan area, which is slated for major redevelopment, have been battling with police since early Monday to demand better compensation. ..."

I don't mean to be cynical but - oh all right yes I do - just how do "dozens" of tenants manage to battle with riot police for more than 24 hours? Granted some had a supply of molotov cocktails, but really, one has to wonder if this 'dozens' reaches into the hundreds, or at least to what extent and for what reason this may have been a conservative number. To be fair though, one also has to wonder how the fire started. Molotov cocktails have a tendancy to start fires slightly more often than water canons.

[RACETRAITOR]

[samd]

[RACETRAITOR]

[Captain Corea]

[Beej]

I dont get it. Arent there rental leases in this country? Lease is up, owner wants to sell, renter leaves.