AP News.

(Nov. 12, 2000) Voice and effects
XFA
VOICED BY: Richard Vaughan

Riot police have clashed with demonstrators in the Korean capital, Seoul.

Violence flared after a protest march by some 20,000 workers on Sunday.

The march was organized by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, which opposes economic restructuring plans in the country designed to alleviate the nation's financial crisis.

VOICE-OVER:

0:03 About 20,000 South Korean workers gathered in the capital, Seoul, for a demonstration organized by the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.

0:11 The union opposes plans for economic restructuring, designed to alleviate the country's financial crisis.

0:16 But the protest turned violent when demonstrators began marching through the city's streets.

0:21 The protesters included a number of workers from the Daewoo manufacturing company - one of several Korean companies in dire financial straits.

0:29 Daewoo has announced that its six thousand white-collar workers will be given a week-long leave of absence.

0:36 The working hours of the carmaker's 12,000 factory workers have already been halved.

0:41 And on Sunday their anger showed as they clashed with riot police during the march.

0:47 The police, in turn, staged baton charges and smashed the windscreen of a labor union truck.

0:54 About 50 demonstrators and riot police were injured.

0:59 The union says it plans to hold an anti-government protest early in December if the administration tries to blame workers for South Korea's ailing economy.

1:08 It says the problems have been caused by ignoring corruption and the close ties between government and business.