A radical demonstration in Seoul today, it seems part of the build up to the Hong Kong mobilisation.

There’s two issues being protested, firstly the rice trade laws, a huge issue amongst the farmers here, and the other is the issue of casualisation. Like many places in the world, short term contracts, flexible working and low pay is a big problem in Korea. It’s estimated that over 8 million people are suffering this lack of security. You can see stickers from unions addressing the problem on the tubes and on lamp posts across the city.

We got to the demo about 2.30pm, and it started with a big rally (big refering to the length!). There’s snow on the ground here and the wind is bitterly cold, yet hundreds of people sit on the ground and listen to firey speeches. One person in every group is responsible for bring along little insulated plastic mats for people to sit on. I can only think it’s a blessing this isn’t the case in the UK - can you imagine the Globalise Resistance delegation stamping it’s feet and cursing the activist with the mat for getting there so late?

In between the speeches, radical songs are belted out at high volume over the PA system. Some sing along, others chat, but almost everyone raises a fist at the appropriate times. After two hours freezing and shaking my fist with real energy (it seemed to be a small way of fighting the cold, I managed to invent a few new fist waving times, much to the amusement of people around me) we start to move off. I think there’s about 5000 of us - I seem to get a good view of the crowd in Asia.

The march is pretty short, there’s rumours of a fight with the cops, I enquire about the methods they use. Water cannon. Oh great, the water will probably freeze before it gets to us, but if it doesn’t it’s hypothermia city for us.

The end of the demo is all too apparent. The main road we are marching down is blocked by police buses with huge shields which cover completely the road. Water cannon are perched on top. A protesters truck with a big sound system is 50 yards back from the police, it belts out more radical songs and a few of us (glad it’s not just me) resort to waving fists indiscriminately. An older protester who seems to me to be a trade union activist frowns at this unruly behaviour.

The man on the truck annouynces we’ll have a couple more songs and then pack the demo up. I’m pleased, my luggage is still in Paris and I have nothing to change into. We catch a tube and my host joins an antiwar leafleting session. I head home for warmth and a rest.