(2nd LD) Anti-government rallies held peacefully nationwide

(ATTN: RECASTS lead, headline; UPDATES with outdoor rallies in paras 2, 4, 5)
By Shin Hae-in
SEOUL, June 10 (Yonhap) -- Tens of thousands of South Koreans held outdoor
rallies in the center of Seoul and provincial cities nationwide Wednesday evening
to celebrate the anniversary of the June 10 pro-democracy movement and protest
against the President Lee Myung-bak government over the death of his immediate
predecessor, Roh Moo-hyun.
Rally participants demanded Lee's apology for launching a politically motivated
corruption probe into Roh and called for efforts to revamp the administration and
restore democracy in overall state affairs.
June 10 marks the 22nd anniversary of South Korea's pro-democracy struggle in
1987 and comes just weeks after Roh, once a champion of democracy and clean
politics, leapt to death near his retirement home amid a pressing corruption
probe. The liberal leader's death has fueled anger among South Koreans, with
critics charging the investigation was too harsh and politically driven.
A rally held in Seoul Square in front of the city hall drew about 22,000
citizens, including opposition lawmakers and liberal activists, but proceeded
peacefully, though some hard-line participants clashed with riot police in minor
scuffles. Organizers claimed about 150,000 attended the Seoul gathering.
Prior to the rally, some violent clashes were witnessed, however.
Police, who had disallowed a rally outside the city hall, unsuccessfully
attempted to form a barricade of riot buses to prevent the rally from getting
bigger.
Lee Jung-hee, a female lawmaker of the progressive Democratic Labor Party,
fainted and was taken to a hospital while trying to block a police bus from
breaking up the rally. The party's leader Kang Ki-kab threw himself on top of
several policemen, shouting "Don't you dare block us!" The two lawmakers were
among dozens who camped on the streets from Tuesday in protest against the police
ban.
"We will hold all illegal demonstrators responsible, by collecting evidence
through video clips even after the rally breaks up," an unnamed police officer
told Yonhap.
Rallies were held in other major cities nationwide, including Gwangju, Daegu and
Busan.
Progressives here claim democracy has been backtracking since Lee took office
last February, beefing up police control of the central Seoul area to prevent
protests. The conservative administration has been cautious in permitting events
that could develop political overtones, especially after the months-long rallies
against U.S. beef imports last summer.
Wednesday's rally also overlaps with escalating ideological conflict following
the suicide of Roh, who served as the country's leader from 2003 to 2008.
Despite allegations his family received millions of dollars from a local
businessman, Roh's May 23 death led to an outpouring of grief by South Koreans.
President Lee, in a speech read by his home affairs minister, claimed "illegality
and violence" were distorting Korea's hard-won democracy.
"We Koreans created a brand new democratic history 22 years ago by peaceful
means," he said. "Let's strive further to establish social unity," he said in a
ceremony commemorating the democratization movement.
University students, professors, lawyers and other social groups continued to
issue statements critical of the government.
"The government must halt its anachronistic authoritarian rule and policies,"
said a statement signed by 50 Hanyang University professors, the most recent
among academic groups to add their names in the mounting campaign.
The campaign started after liberal professors from the state-run Seoul National
University issued a statement on June 3, denouncing several political and
diplomatic policies of the Lee administration.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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