Public Meeting: Wednesday 19th August 7pm Clubspace, University of Auckland (above the quad)
In 2008 hundreds of thousands of Koreans joined massive candle light vigils protesting the right-wing government of Lee Myung Bak. A wide cross section of people were angered by Lee’s policies of privatisation, attacks on public education and his decision to allow imports of US beef despite fears over Mad Cow Disease. Following the protests the government launched a heavy crack down on democratic freedoms. Riot police brutally attacked demonstrators. Many protest leaders were imprisoned.
Recently the occupation of the Ssangyong auto factory by 600 workers, facing off attacks by police helicopters, tear gas and tasers has received media attention around the World.
Jacob Lee, a member of the Korean socialist group All Together, will give a first hand account of the militant mass movements in Korea.
All welcome! (Organised by Socialist Aotearoa)
It is important to point out that you are referring to the Korean Republic rather than the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. The two nations are not one as of date.
Its such a shame that the people of South Korea are stuck with a bunch of mental rightwinged nuts! Meanwhile in the North the country is run by the confident and respectful minds of dear leader comrade Kim Jong Il and the Korean Workers Party. I know the leadership of the DPRK has been in doubt by many in recent times however you all must admit that the DPRK has been held back from ecenomic progress and foreign trade so many times by the USA. So many sanctions and other rubish. I say just leave them alone and let them get on with rebuilding their economy and improving the lives of their citizens. If the USA never got involved in other peoples business Korea would be one.