By Kang Shin-who
Staff Reporter
The Ministry of Justice and prosecutors are considering drawing up a blacklist of ``habitual demonstrators’’ to punish them more harshly.
``Among the candidates to make the list are those candlelight rally protestors who were already punished for leading violent rallies,’’ a prosecutor said. ``There are even some professional demonstrators who wielded violence at the rallies. The list is to counter these violent demonstrators.’’
However, it is unclear whether they will carry through with the move as it could be seen as an infringement upon the freedom of privacy.
Prosecutors are checking the punishment records of some 1,600 people who are now under investigation in relation to recent rallies against U.S. beef imports.
Meanwhile, the prosecution has decided to impose most of the 1,600 candlelight protestors with a fine of over 500,000 won ($430) each.
kswho@koreatimes.co.kr