Protestor Ordered to Receive Psychotherapy
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
A court ordered a farmer who participated in a violent protest against a free trade deal with the U.S to attend lectures on how to deal with psychological problems.
The Supreme Court ruled the farmer identified as Hwang, in an appeal case at the highest court, to take 40 hours of such lectures.
``(He) needs to learn new skills to control his temper as he, while intoxicated, committed extremely violent acts during the demonstration,'' the ruling said.
In the ruling, the court said anti-FTA activists in Daejeon had illegally occupied the road in front of South Chungcheong provincial government building in November 2006. While attempting to break into the office compound, the protesters clashed with police, leaving 35 officers injured and damage to the government building worth 189 million won.
During the protest, Hwang threatened police with dangerous implements and hurled flaming torches at police buses, resulting in the damage of several buses' windows, the court said.
The court also sentenced four other protesters opposing the FTA deal to a year and half in prison, with the term suspended for three years, upholding the decisions from lower courts. But it found two other protestors guilty for leading the unlawful activity, putting them behind bars for one and a half years with no suspension.
The six Korean nationals were indicted in 2006 on charges of participating in an anti-FTA demonstration, leaving numerous casualties and financial damage.
The pact between Seoul and Washington was concluded on April 1, 2007. Currently, both states are waiting for legislative endorsement. The comprehensive trade agreement will eliminate tariffs and other barriers to trade in goods and services, while it is expected to significantly damage the Korean agricultural industry.