Скачать или смотреть SOUTH KOREA: SEOUL: POLICE CLASH WITH 2 THOUSAND PROTESTORS

(19 Apr 1998) Natural Sound

Striking South Korean workers have again clashed with tear gas-spraying riot police.

More than two-thousand protesters shouted and marched along the sidewalks in downtown Seoul.

Workers kicked and shoved at riot police, who repelled them by spraying tear gas.

Protesting trade unionists and riot police came face to face as demonstrators tried to march through downtown Seoul.

Riot police, forming a line with shields raised, repelled the demonstrators with batons and tear gas.

About 2,500 protestors tried to push their way to the Roman Catholic Myungdong Cathedral, a traditional site for anti-government rallies.

"We oppose layoffs!" 2,500 protesters shouted.

SOUNDBITE: (Korean)
"This problem of lay offs does not stop with job losses for unionists of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. This effects everybody from the poor, the farmers and their families. We must come together and fight together."
SUPER CAPTION: Lee Kap-Yong, President of Korean Confederation of Trade Unions

South Korean workers once enjoyed a lifetime employment system which guaranteed each worker a job for life.

This system was protected by law but is now rapidly crumbling due to the financial crisis.

The country's debt-ridden conglomerates have begun to lay off workers in order to cut down on costs.

The number of unemployed people has risen to 1.5 (m)million in the past year.

Experts expect the number to raise to 2 (m) million soon.

Saturday's protesters included striking workers from Kia Motors Corporation, steel and subway workers.

Taxi drivers and student activists also joined in the march.

Workers staged similar protest rallies in at least 10 other provincial cities.

Government officials warn that the unrest could chase away foreign investment which is badly needed to rebuild South Korea's battered economy.

South Korea was forced to accept 58.35 (b) billion U-S dollars in rescue from the International Monetary Fund to pull itself back from the brink of national default.

I-M-F managing director Michel Camdessus this week praised South Korea for implementing reforms mandated by the Fund under the terms of the rescue.

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