Sept. 23 Anti-war Protest in Seoul, South Korea

Bring the Troops Home Now!

On a beautiful fall day in Seoul, 1,500 anti-war protesters gathered in front of the Seoul Station. There were old faces and flags like the Korean Democratic Labor Party, left nationalists, All Together and gay and lesbians with their anti-war rainbow flag. But there were also new faces which go to show that the South Korean anti-war movement is gaining its momentum again.
Today, we were joined by two inspiring groups.


One is a delegation from the US Veterans for Peace. 5 delegates, most of them with gray hairs, shared their experiences of war, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and reminded us that the war is not the answer and we, the people and not the governments, are the one who can stop war. One of the delegates got a biggest cheer when he told the crowds that thousands of Americans are demonstrating against the war on Iraq on the same day and the majority of the American people are against the war.
Second group is the youths against the war group composed of high school and below students. In a clear and strong voice, one of the members spoke on the stage. She said that the most common victims of wars are children and they are dying because the US considers profit first before human lives. “We must come together and speak out,” she said.
The protesters unanimously resolved a declaration stating that they will continue to build the anti-war movement and struggle against the South Korean government’s attempt to extend the troops deployment in Iraq through the parliament. Moreover, they will strengthen the anti-war movement in solidarity with the international anti-war movement to end the US occupation of Iraq and stop the US attack on Iran.

The protesters then marched from the Seoul Station to Gwanghwamun where the US embassy is located demanding the return of Korean troops from Iraq, the end of the US occupation of Iraq, No Korean troops to Lebanon, don’t attack Iran, and no to the relocation of the US bases to Pyeongtaek.