Drunk Man Injures 3 Anti-Gov`t Protesters

Police said yesterday that a drunk 30-something man used a knife to injure three members of an Internet-based group opposed to President Lee Myung-bak near the Buddhist temple Jogye in Seoul.

Police applied for an arrest warrant against the 38-year-old man "Park" on the charge of attempted murder after he allegedly injured the three at 2:05 a.m. yesterday at Woojeongguk Park.

The suspect, who runs a restaurant near Jogye Temple, went to the temple after drinking with his friends Monday evening.

When he heard the group members talking about U.S. beef imports, he tried to join their conversation by saying, "U.S. beef is better than Korean beef." They told him to go away, and a jilted Park then went to his restaurant to get a kitchen knife to use against them.

"The group supports those wanted by police for their roles in the candlelight protests and who are now hiding in Jogye Temple," said a police officer. "Park was apparently not interested in politics and the incident seems like an accident because he was drunk."

Two of the members suffered injuries to the head, neck and face and are in the hospital, while the other was discharged.

turtle@donga.com