South Korea Marks Schoolgirls' Deaths Anniversary (Photo of Tearful US GI's)

AFP Asia (w/ photos) ^ | 13 June 2003 | AFP Asia

[AmericanInTokyo]

(Photo just a few hours ago in front of Seoul City Hall)

South Korea Marks Anniversary of Schoolgirls' Deaths (Run Over by U.S. Tank) Fri Jun 13, 2:55 AM ET

SEOUL (AFP) - South Korea (news - web sites) marked the first anniversary of the deaths of two schoolgirls crushed by a US military vehicle in an incident that triggered a national outpouring of anti-American sentiment. Police vowed to crack down on violent protests ahead of planned rallies and candlelight vigils in Seoul and other cities to commemorate the tragic deaths on June 13 last year.

The deaths of the two 14-year-old schoolgirls and the acquittal of two US soldiers charged with negligent homicide in connection with the accident fueled anti-US protests that last year put the five-decade-long US-South Korea alliance at risk. Late last year, tens of thousands of angry South Korean protesters packed streets to forge "a sea of candlelights" in downtown Seoul where the US embassy compound is located.

Authorities in Seoul and Washington have subsequently taken steps to heal damage to bilateral relations and anti-US sentiment has tapered off amid rising fears over North Korea's nuclear weapons drive.

Seoul officials have urged memorial service organizers to restrain anti-US sentiment, while US military authorities have repeatedly expressed regret and apology over the deaths. South Korean Prime Minister Goh Kun on Wednesday called for peaceful memorial services that would not harm the US-South Korean alliance which dates back to the 1950-53 Korean War.

Goh said in a televised speech that US-South Korean ties were a "strong buttress to boost our democracy and economic development and the foundation to protect our national interests." The commander of US troops in South Korea said Wednesday that American soldiers would also conduct memorial services of their own to mourn the two Korean girls' deaths.

Apologizing over the accident, General Leon J. LaPorte said that memorial services would be held at all 17 camps of the 2nd Infantry Division, as well as the US military headquarters in Seoul on Friday.

Police detained 14 student activists who broke into a US military base in Seoul Thursday ahead of the anniversary. Some 15,000 riot police were deployed near the Gwanghwamun streets in downtown Seoul, the venue for a major candlelight vigil, with the nearby US embassy under heavy guard.

Security has also been beefed up at US diplomatic missions and army bases across the country. The association of civic groups said they would stage memorial services, including candlelight vigils, in a peaceful way but protested the police ban on marches towards the US embassy. Though anti-American sentiment has eased, hardcore student radicals are still demand the withdrawal of 37,000 US troops stationed here under a mutual defense pact.

Organizers said they expected more than 150,000 people to take part in rallies across the country, while police estimated the number would be under 30,000

[AmericanInTokyo]

(Photo, on right, of prayer service at US 2nd Infantry Division in Uijeongbu, Korea)

[Skywalk]

What a pathetic joke of a cause. It's terrible what happened to those girls, but people die in accidents every day.

They weren't killed by official US policy, heck they weren't even killed by some raping, scum GI, they were hit by a heavy vehicle.

If the Americans hadn't been at the wheel, all those thousands of a-holes wouldn't have cared.

[MattinNJ]

Do they have annual memorials were tens of thousands come out to honor our fallen soldiers or have they forgotten the frozen Chosin.

I know most of the older generation is very grateful but the younger generation better realize they would be starving along with their with their northern neighbors if it wasn't for us. It really hacked me off when they booed us at the World Cup.

[AmericanInTokyo]

They have them. As a matter of fact, I went to one of those memorials.

It commemorated the Korean War (held in S. Korea on 6/6/03). It was in the "Iron Triangle" area near Chorlwon, called "White Horse Mountain (Baekmayang)"

It was quite emotional. They had great respect for the many ROK and US soldiers that died. And, I was pleased to note, from one of the markers there, that nearly 14,000 Chinese Volunteers met their end and went to the big commune in the sky at that location.

[AmericanInTokyo]

It probably would not have received the traction if the tank involved was from the ROK Army. The North Korean agents in the south would not have stirred up the people, the news media would not have stoked it, and S. Korean presidential candidates would not have milked it for every cent and rode its wave into the Blue House. Good point.

[TigerLikesRooster]

They vowed to bring out 1 million, but only 30,000 turned up. It is clear they failed. Even using the lowest number for the pro-American rally in March, 100,000, they are outclassed big time. There will be another pro-American, anti-North rally coming on June 21.

[MattinNJ]

Thank you. That is great to know. I have a client who served in Korea. He told me some real tear jerkers.

FWIW, I have another client who served in Viet Nam. He said that Charlie was terrified of the South Koreans. They used to hang the VC w/ piano wire. Their camps were immaculate and they conducted calisthenics every day. Some real tough SOB's from what I gathered.

[AmericanInTokyo]

That was 30 or 40 years ago. The ROK arm is a lot less "ROK solid" nowadays, IMHO, than it ever was in the 'Nam or on the DMZ in the 1970s. Different batch of kids.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

We used to wonder who was the tougher troop--the ROKs or the Turks. The conclusion was the Koreans were A LOT tougher because they liked to beat each other up for fun...

[AmericanInTokyo]

Good point.

One also has to keep in mind (when something like this flames American conservatives and they post to the effect that all South Koreans suck), that:

In the period leading up to the Iraq war, let's say February to April of this year:

What is the total number of Freepers and other pro American types that turned out in the streets to support Bush and the war? (maybe 5,000?)

What is the total number of anti-American types, International A.N.S.W.E.R., Hollywood leftists that turned out against the War? (maybe 1-1.5 million?)

And, in reality, what was the percentage of the American public in support of the war?

The answer is, the public demonstrations don't represent the larger reality. They did not and do not for Iraqi War, and they did not and do not re: South Korean sentiment towards the United States.

[AmericanInTokyo]

One of the first thing I believe a Korean kid has to do when he moves to a new town and ergo a new school, (no matter how weak or effeminate or gay- he may be) is to fight the biggest kid in school in front of everyone--to establish his 'level' in the vertical, hierarchical social order of things. Best to kick the crap out of the meanest guy ASAP, like on day one, in order not to receive any crap from other kids for the rest of the year.

[Navy Patriot]

It appears the South Korean people still have not learned to use any horse sense (are there any horses in Korea?).

It would be sad if they had to learn it by the withdrawl of U.S. troops and military support from S. Korea.

Too soon angry and too late smart.

[MattinNJ]

I wouldn't count them out. The apple doesn't fall far from the trees and their very lives are at stake. I never would have imagined that our troops would prove as tough as the guys who fought in WWII, Korea, or 'Nam, but I was amazed at the performance of the 7th cavalry on the road to Bagdhad. I think Victor Hansen (sp?) said it best- "when you have a bunch of muscular kids wearing ray bans driving around in tanks named "anger management" do not get in their way."

[MattinNJ]

Oops, forgot about the Turks. I heard some stories that the Turks would sometimes refuse anesthesia-is that true?