Riot Policeman Faces Punishment for Assaulting Protestor

A riot policeman, who kicked a female university student in the head in the process of dispersing protestors participating in a candlelight vigil, will face legal punishment.

The National Police Agency said Thursday that they will take legal action against the 21-year-old riot policeman, identified only as Kim of the Seoul Metropolitan Mobile Police, for his violent attack of Lee Na-rae, 21, a student at Seoul National University`s music college. Kim grabbed Lee’s hair, threw her down on the street and kicked her while controlling protesters in central Seoul.

Police also relieved a police superintendent, who failed to prevent the incident, and Kim’s company commander from their duties.

Meanwhile, police also sought an arrest warrant against a man, identified only as Choi, on charges of posting an article that falsely claims that a female protester at a candlelight vigil was murdered by police officers. Choi was arrested on Wednesday.

turtle@donga.com