Protesters Climb Ladder... Police Forcefully Disperse Residents in Front of Seongju THAAD Base

Ministry of National Defense, Construction to Improve Soldiers' Living Conditions... Residents Continue 'Material Entry Blockade' Protests Following Last Month

Protest in front of the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) base in Soseong-ri, Chojeon-myeon, Seongju-gun on the 25th. (Provided by THAAD Withdrawal Peace Action)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Park Dong-wook] On the 25th, at the entrance of the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) base in Soseong-ri, Chojeon-myeon, Seongju-gun, Gyeongbuk, residents held a protest to block the entry of construction equipment and materials, and the police began a forced dispersal.

Starting at 10:30 a.m. that day, the police deployed about 500 officers to forcibly disperse about 50 residents who were staging a sit-in protest on the road in front of the Soseong-ri village hall.

These residents demanded the suspension of construction at the THAAD base and the withdrawal of construction equipment and materials, and resisted the police dispersal by placing their bodies inside ladder-shaped lattice structures made of steel pipes. During the dispersal, one resident fainted and was transported to the hospital.

Earlier, on the 22nd of last month, the Ministry of National Defense had a severe clash with protesters while bringing in construction equipment and materials to improve the living environment of soldiers within the THAAD base.

On the 25th, a resident of Soseori who was blocking construction vehicles at the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) base in Seongju-gun clashed with the police and was seen unconscious. (Provided by THAAD Withdrawal Peace Action)