By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter

Over 100,000 citizens and students are expected to flock to downtown Seoul Saturday to participate in a candlelit vigil against the impending resumption of U.S. beef imports.

The vigil will be the largest ever since they began May 2 and the massive protest is expected to continue over the weekend.

Members of some 1,700 civic organizations, university student associations and groups of Internet users plan to join the night rally, encouraging other citizens to join them so as to attract 100,000 participants.

They plan to parade on major roads in central Seoul, including the areas of Gwanghwamun, Jongno and Choenggye Stream until early Sunday morning.

The authorities are now on high alert over the possibility the upcoming candlelit vigil will turn violent after Agriculture Minister Chung Woon-chun announced U.S. beef import were to be resumed.

It seems that June is the cruelest month for the authorities ahead of various anniversaries, which will result in more candlelit vigils.

On June 3, the import of U.S. beef will officially come into effect. Some civic groups even plan to block the transportation of imported U.S. beef.

The day also marks 100 days since the inauguration of President Lee Myung-bak, who returned from his trip to China Friday night.

Since the anti-U.S. beef rallies have become politicized with some calling for the impeachment of Lee regarding his new polices, the angry crowd participating in the candlelit vigil is expected to become a great source of embarrassment to the new government.

On June 13, massive crowds will also hold a candlelit vigil to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the death of two middle school girls, who were crushed to death by a U.S. armored vehicle in Yangju, Gyeonggi Province, in 2002. The incident initiated candlelit vigils as a new form of peaceful protest.

June 15 is the eighth anniversary of the historic inter-Korean summit. Liberals are expected to join hands to denounce the Lee administration for scrapping the Sunshine Policy of engagement with North Korea.

e3dward@koreatimes.co.kr