CNN iReport

-37 people taken to the police and some wounded-

On May 24, about 40,000 koreans were marching with candles in their hand on Sejong street of Seoul. They were women with their children, students, farmers, handicapped people, and other citizens objecting beef imports from the US. and asking impeachment.

Beef importation is currently the hottest issue in Korea because the goverment decided to import beef that was 30 mos. old or more with materials without enough inspection system. Older cows have a greater chance of carrying mad cow disease. What aggravates people the most is that they could be used as human lab rats to test for the mad cow disease. Currently deaths caused by mad cow disease has been reported in UK, Netherlands, Spain, and the US.

People have voiced their opinions in hopes that the government will negotiate again to lower the age of beef. However, the government ignored. Additionally, President Lee Myung Bak has pushed forward a secret plan for the Great Canal project which will divide the whole country into pieces and damage ecosystem. Also he has kept reversing his statements and promises about systems of health insurance, public waterworks, education, and highways. He turned his head away from people's voice on all these.

With resentment and hope, people gathered with candles to speak their minds. After singing and sharing opinions, they marched along the street.

More and more people joined and the police started to blocked them to dismiss the gathering but failed. Soon the police pushed and hit people with shields and began to take people away who the police thought to take the lead. Then, water sprinklers arrived and shot water forcefully at them. Many of them cried and shouted about the freedom of speech. When the day broke, only 1,000 people were left and were preparing another gathering that will be held on Sunday.

At this time, the most surprising thing is that most Koreans didn't know about that situation. They can't hear from radio, watch on TV or read an article on newspapers about it because the government blocked all major broadcasting system and most internet portal sites and newspapers to control for its own use. Only few minor internet news have coverage about the scene. People who knew the situation through cell phones are now asking friends or aquaintance abroad to let others know about this shouting 'the freedom of press'.

Now about 80% of Koreans have negative views of the president and reprimand his poor administrating ability and his deceitful and dictatorial attitude toward people. Korea is a democratic republic. Everyone knows that except President Lee and his admininstration.