Students Rally Peacefully for Tuition Cut

A nationwide network of some 540 civic groups against tuition hikes staged a rally at the Seoul Plaza in front of the City Hall from 1 p.m. on Friday, urging the education authorities to address the problem.

The rally was first of its kind since the Lee Myung-bak administration proclaimed that demonstrators involved in violent and illegal acts would be subject to strict punishment. Tension was running high near the Seoul Plaza even hours before the demonstration began.

As of 6 p.m. Friday, no physical confrontation has occurred, but the rally caused serious traffic congestion downtown.

▽ 8,000 Demonstrators Urge Lowering College Tuition

Some 8,000 students, parents and civic group members from all over the country participated in the rally.

Around 1 p.m. some 1,000 education major students from all regions held a preliminary demonstration at the Cheonggye Plaza, criticizing the Lee administration’s education policies.

Then at 3 p.m. around 7,000 students from various student groups, such as the 21st Korea University Student Association, the Association of Korea University Student Bodies and the Council for Korean University of Education Representatives, gave a performance at the Seoul Plaza showing their opposition against tuition fee hikes.

The student participants parodied the so-called “era of 10 million won in tuition fees” by wearing graduation caps made up of fake money. Some lied on the ground to show their desperate feelings about the soaring fees.

A student who went back to school after finishing his military duty showed up in army uniform and said, “By the time I came back to college after leaving the army, college tuitions had risen tremendously and now I cannot afford to go to school.”

The civic groups demanded that the government lower tuition fees, expand low-interest student loans and implement a transparent tuition fee system at the demonstration.

The participants left the Seoul Plaza at 5:30 p.m. via Euljiro-2-ga and marched two kilometers to the Cheonggye Plaza and disbanded around 7 p.m.

▽ Police Dispatched Specially Trained Officers

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency (SMPA), which had warned of strict law enforcement about illegal rallies, dispatched some 15,000 police from 179 companies to the site.

The police said before the rally, “We will strictly enforce the law. We will not tolerate even minor violations such as crossing police lines.”

Some 100 specially trained police officers from three platoons were stationed at the venue, raising tension between the protest organizers and police.

Students and civic group members protested against the extreme law enforcement, saying, “We are demanding the rights of education. Why do they send the special team for arresting?”

Special team head Kim Jae-won said in response, “As long as they do not inconvenience citizens by turning the demonstration into a violent one or occupying roads, we will not mobilize our unit.”

Before the rally, police launched a campaign, calling for a law-abiding gathering.

▽ Controversy over Illegal Occupation of Seoul Plaza

The demonstration organizers showed mature attitudes yesterday, but they were mired in a controversy over their illegal occupation of the Seoul Plaza.

The People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy, which organized the rally, submitted an application to use the plaza twice on March 7 and 18.

The Seoul City government did not approve the use, saying, “Seoul Plaza is exclusively for cultural events.” The civic group, however, proceeded with the rally, saying, “We would rather pay penalties.”

Those who violate the rule must pay the city government 20 percent added fees to the basic rate, which is about 150,000 won per hour.

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