Seongju residents injured during THAAD demonstration

Residents of Soseong in North Gyeongsang Province gather on a bridge on Nov. 21 in an effort to prevent trucks from entering the THAAD missile defense base at Seongju. The residents shouted “No construction without an environmental impact assessment,” while police placed mats below the bridge prior to dispersing the demonstration. (by Koo Dae-sun, Daegu correspondent)

4,000 police were sent to confront 100 residents protesting the arrival of trucks at the THAAD base

Residents of Seongju in North Gyeongsang Province were injured when police forcibly dispersed a group gathered in the village, which is the location of the THAAD missile defense system base at Seongju. Residents are currently receiving hospital treatment for injuries sustained in a confrontation with police that occurred at around 9:10 am on Nov. 21 near the base in Soseong. The confrontation took place between roughly 4,000 police from 50 companies who were sent to the scene from 5 am and around 100 village residents protesting the arrival of vehicles on the base. Residents clashed with police after stopping a one-ton truck, five cars, and one container on nearby Jinbat Bridge, located about 700 meters from the Soseong village center.

During the four-hour long confrontation, police laid mats under the five- to six-meter high bridge as a precaution while attempting to forcibly disperse the protesting residents at around 9:10 am. Residents claimed the police were “dragging people away by force,” adding that a “number of people were injured, and two had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance.” Around 10 residents were still clashing with police as of 10:30 am.

Around 4,000 police confront 100 roughly demonstrators on the morning of Nov. 21 in Soseong, North Gyeongsang Province. (by Koo Dae-sun, Daegu correspondent)

The confrontation between residents and police began that day when protesters began gathering in front of the village to block access to around 50 trucks after reports that the Ministry of National Defense was sending them into the base to provide equipment for construction efforts, including the installation of heating and water pipes and replacement of wastewater treatment facilities. Sources reported that the ministry planned to bury over 500 meters of water pipes to prevent freezing between the well, the clubhouse, and the “golftel” used as lodgings by around 400 military personnel, while also replacing wastewater treatment facilities. Plans also included installing heating and fixing ceiling leaks in the clubhouse, which is chiefly used by South Korean military personnel.

“The Seongju golf course building is a living space that can accommodate around 150 people. With around 400 South Korea and US military personnel currently living there, however, the lack of heating facilities has necessitated additional construction, and we also plan to conduct repairs to damaged wastewater treatment facilities,” the Ministry explained, adding that “trucks carrying equipment and supplies will need to be brought in for the construction.”

A view of Soseong village, North Gyeongsang Province at 5 am on the morning of Nov. 21 before police began moving in. (by Koo Dae-sun, Daegu correspondent)

Kang Hyeon-wook, spokesperson for the THAAD Opposition Situation Room, called on [authorities] to “do the construction after first having a formal environmental impact assessment rather than relying on a small-scale one.”

“If they try to bring more large-scale equipment in to perform construction when an environmental impact assessment has not been conducted, then we have no choice but to physically prevent it,” Kang said.

Residents and police previously clashed in Soseong village during the delivery of two THAAD launchers on Apr. 26 and another four on Sept. 7.

By Koo Dae-sun, Daegu correspondent

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