13,000 protesters hold anti-government rally

Protesters held a massive rally on Saturday against the government’s push for labor reform and against talks with the U.S. over the deployment of the American missile defense system in S. Korea.

About 13,000 protestors from the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, the association of farmers and progressive civic groups gathered at Seoul Plaza in central Seoul to wage the rally. The rally came amid public denouncements directed at the government's push for labor reform that the protestors say will make it easier for companies to dismiss workers.

Some progressive protesters raised their voices against Seoul's move to begin talks with Washington over the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system (THAAD) here, saying it could possibly initiate an arms race in the region.

“We've come to gather together as there is no opposition party which can represent our voices against the government of President Park Geun-hye," the protestors said in an opening speech as cited by Yonhap news agency.

Last November, an anti-government rally turned violent as some participants brandished metal pipes, clashing with the police who then fired water cannons at them. A farmer still remains in critical condition after being knocked down by high pressure spray from a police water cannon.

The protestors at Saturday's demonstration marched toward the hospital where the farmer is still being treated but has not yet recovered.