Las Vegas Review-Journal (Sunday)
Security beefed up after Seoul rally
Students break into U.S. envoy’s compound
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korean police said Saturday they beefed up security at the U.S. ambassador’s residence in Seoul after a group of anti-American students used ladders to break into the compound.
They were protesting demands by the Trump administration that South Korea pay more to help cover the costs of keeping U.S. troops in the country.
Officials from three Seoul police stations didn’t immediately say whether they will seek to formally arrest any of the 19 university students who were detained Friday afternoon at the residence of Ambassador Harry Harris.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police agency said Saturday the number of officers guarding the residence was more than tripled to 110.
The demonstrators, who broadcast parts of their protest on Facebook, used two steel ladders to climb over the compound’s wall. They shouted anti-U.S. slogans and held up signs that read “The United States has called for a five-fold increase in defense costs!” and “Harris, leave this land!” before police officers dragged them out.
At the time of the protest, Harris was at Seoul’s presidential Blue House attending a reception for foreign ambassadors hosted by President Moon Jae-in.
Harris tweeted about the incident on Saturday, saying, “Big shout out to Embassy guards & Seoul Metro Police Agency for responding to protesters who breached perimeter around my residence. 2nd incident in 13 months in Heart of Seoul. This time they tried to forcibly enter my home itself. 19 arrested. Cats are OK. Thanks polinlove!” referring to the Twitter account of South Korea’s National Police Agency.
In September 2018, South Korean police detained a Chinese woman who had trespassed into the residence, but they said she wasn’t making a political statement.
About a dozen leftist students rallied in front of Seoul’s Namdaemun district police station Saturday calling for the immediate release of the “righteous” protesters.
“You may have the support of foreign powers, capitalists, police and the military, but we have the united voice of like-minded colleagues bound by loyalty!” shouted one of the students.