Stroller Moms Under Investigation

Mothers march with their babies in strollers during a rally against American beef imports in Seoul in May. Police have begun investigating three mothers for the alleged online instigation of other moms to participate in the illegal demonstration. / Korea Times File Photo

By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter

Police are drawing criticism from Internet users and civic groups for their decision to investigate mothers who brought their babies in strollers to candlelight rallies opposing American beef imports. Police say the mothers led illegal demonstrations, but the groups claim they didn't use violence during the protests.

Police recently started probing three members of an online community named ``Stroller Moms Corps,'' and booked one of them, 37-year-old Yu, without physical detention on alleged violation of the law on rallies and traffic obstruction. They will summon the other two soon.

The community members and other mothers took part in the rallies with their babies in strollers. Clashes between riot police and protesters usually did not happen when the mothers were present, as both sides tried to protect the children.

Investigators visited the home of one of the members, Yang, and showed her husband photos of her, which police took at the demonstration for evidence.

``I, mother of three children, participated in the rally as I wished to leave safe food and quality education to my kids, but I did not know that I would have to pay a huge cost. We mothers, carrying babies in strollers and holding candles, neither destroyed patrol buses, nor wielded steel pipes,'' Yang, 34-year-old housewife, said on portal site Daum.

``The police visited my house without prior notice. They also called and just kept asking whether I would follow the summons or not, saying they can arrest me anytime if I don't,'' she said.

Internet users strongly denounced the probe. The community members and a civic coalition against the beef imports will hold a press briefing to protest the move in front of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency in central Seoul Monday.

``Police should have sent a written request for summons to them if they needed to question the mothers. Demanding a summons by visiting the house without prior notice is an abuse of authority, and saying that they would arrest her is a threat,'' the coalition said in a statement.

Regarding the protest, police said they followed legal procedures, including the house visit. According to police, Yang and the other members led the community and urged other members to participate in the rallies between June and August. Yu, who marched on the street in a June 25 rally, stood at the head of the demonstrators and confronted police's water cannon with her baby in stroller, making police unable to forcibly disperse the protesters.

A blogger ``bigman'' said on Daum, ``No one was hurt by the strollers. The mothers did not organize a coup d'etat with the babies.'' Another Internet user ``eureca'' said the government should understand the mothers who did not have other ways to express their opinion but taking their babies to the protest scene.

The main opposition Democratic Party also denounced police, saying they are investigating mothers who worry about the children's health, in the name of establishing order. ``After oppressing the people and religion, the police are now trying to suppress moms,'' it said in a statement.

But some criticized the mothers. ``The mothers' reckless activity could have hurt the kids,'' a blogger ``neukkiboy'' said, while ``aromi'' said, ``Making the babies a human shield was not that proud an action.''

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr

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