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Seoul braces for 2nd massive rally

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Protesters of Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), with some wearing masks, march on streets of Busan on Wednesday, as they said they will participate in the second massive rally to be held Saturday in downtown, Seoul. / Yonhap

Police are anticipating a second massive rally by the unions of farmers and workers on Saturday afternoon in downtown Seoul after the first rally was held in mid-November by some 60,000 people at the same location.

For the second rally, about 15,000 protesters are expected to swarm Seoul Plaza in Jongno-gu, Central Seoul, according to Yonhap news agency. Some 20,000 policemen plan to monitor the protesters. The first rally turned violent because of physical conflicts between the police and the protesters.

The public is wary of the second rally, worrying whether it will again turn violent as the first did. The first rally, held by a farmers’ association and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU), demanded that the government come up with a compensation plan for farmers ahead of its FTA with China being ratified and becoming effective, which is expected to slash rice prices in Korea. The rally was also to protest against the government’s move to weaken the rights of workers.

The police have strictly warned the protesters that if they become physically aggressive and take illegal means against the police, they will be punished. Previously, the police banned the second rally from taking place, but the protesters said that banning the rally is a violation of their constitutional rights to protest and they will proceed with the second rally.

The protesters notified the police in advance that they will march about 3.5 kilometers from the plaza to Seoul National University Hospital, where a protester from the first rally is still hospitalized after he was sprayed by a police water cannon and fell unconscious.

The police and the Seoul Metropolitan Government warned the public that there will be extreme traffic congestion in downtown Seoul on Saturday and asked motorists to avoid the area if possible.