South Korea: Pitched Battle At Konkuk U.

For four days last week the spacious, green campus of Konkuk University in Seoul was under siege, the scene of the worst violence between radical students and South Korean authorities in months. The clash came as roughly 2,000 students occupied five university buildings to protest the policies of President Chun Doo Hwan, who has repeatedly turned aside demands for democratic elections, and U.S. support for the Seoul government. Barricading stairwells, the protesters threatened to set themselves on fire if police moved in.

At week’s end an estimated 8,000 riot police stormed the campus, battling students for two hours before gaining control. When it was over, 42 students had been injured and more than 1,400 detained.