3 Against US Beef Imports Attacked Near Jogye Temple
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Three leaders of rallies against U.S. beef imports were attacked near Jogye Temple, central Seoul, by a restaurant owner who was in favor of the imports, police said Tuesday.
Witnesses quoted the attacker as saying, ``Hanwoo (Korean beef) could be much more harmful than U.S. beef,'' before stabbing the men, two of whom are in critical condition.
According to police and the People's Association for Measures Against Mad Cow Disease, the three identified as Moon, Yoon and Kim, were arguing about the beef imports with Park, 38, who owns a restaurant nearby Jogye Temple, where the association leaders are sheltering.
Park apparently went to his restaurant, returned with a knife and attacked the men. Moon, 39, and Yoon, 31, were stabbed in the head, neck and face and are being treated in hospital. Kim, 38, suffered only a minor injury and was sent home after treatment.
Park fled with the assault weapon but was caught 100 meters from the site of the attack by patrolling officers. Police said Park smelled of alcohol and a warrant for arrest will be filed against him.
The incident took place even though there were hundreds of plain-clothes police and riot police around the temple waiting to arrest rally leaders.
The people's association issued a statement claiming plain-clothes police officers were lax in their response to the attack.