Korean residents in London to protest mob violence

By Kim Jae-heun

A Korean women's community in London will hold a candlelit protest in Oxford Circus, Sunday, to urge the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation of a recent case of gang violence targeting a Korean student there and request preventive measures against such crimes.

The community decided to stand up against the violence as this is not the first case; another Korean was similarly assaulted last year.

“Korean residents here feel threatened by the case as there is the possibility similar crimes could continue to occur,” a protest organizer told the local press on condition of anonymity. “We want social minorities such as children, women, the disabled and senior citizens to be protected and the English government to sternly punish hate crimes that come from discrimination against specific races and religions.”

She said the demonstrators will use LED candles as it is illegal in England to use actual candles for safety reasons.

On Nov. 11, Korean student Mary Lee, studying at the University of Creative Arts in Canterbury, was attacked by about 10 people in London.

Lee was reportedly walking in the street that night when the teenagers threw garbage at her. When she protested their bullying, they pushed her to the ground and assaulted her.

A number of people were on the street watching her being attacked and shooting video with their mobile phones. Only two people help her by stopping the teenagers. She called the police but officers did not appear at the scene.

In October last year, two British teenagers in Brighton assaulted a 20-year-old Korean student.