Torch Tactics

Well, I missed the Olympic Torch relay in Seoul due to my whirlwind trip home (more on that later when my jet lag clears). Now I'm back getting oriented, updated, and organized. Sounds like I missed some interesting events!
The Korean media's take on what happened here during the torch relay goes differently than I would have expected. Despite the general law and order stance of most Koreans, I would have expected more organized, chanting, marching, singing protest by Korean college students against Beijing. In their own way, college students here are just as opinionated as college students in North America. From what I hear, there were some pro-Tibet and anti-Beijing (it's different) protesters. However: it was the pro-China protesters who really got out of hand. Were they really unprovoked? I wonder: do they feel that China is being overly vilified abroad?
For friends back home, I am going to reprint some of the coverage of the protests from the most popular English language paper in Seoul.
* Disclaimer-Note to North American readers*
It is my personal opinion that the Korean press sometimes spins incidents so that "foreigners," which would include Chinese students, seem more to blame in any ugly incident than the Korean nationals. Disorderly conduct by Koreans seems to get minimized by authorities and some of the reporters who cover them. This is NOT true of every Korean journalist, and not every foreigner in Korea shares my opinion.You have a right to your opinion, I have a right to mine.
It is still an interesting article...
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"Seoul Slams Chinese Torch Relay Violence"

The government yesterday expressed "strong regret" over the violence by Chinese demonstrators during Sunday's Olympic torch relay in Seoul.
Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Yong-joon delivered the message of regret to Chinese Ambassador to Seoul Ning Fukui during a meeting at his office. "Ambassador Ning visited the ministry to thank us for the tight security measures for the torch relay," a ministry official said. "We showed him police reports on violence caused by some young Chinese people and expressed strong regret." Talking to reporters after the meeting, the ambassador sought to contain the fallout from the incident.
"What I want to stress is that Chinese people, especially Chinese students here, have good feelings about South Koreans," Ning said. "(I) will continue efforts not to damage the public sentiment of both nations. I think it requires joint efforts by the two governments."
On Sunday, more than 6,000 Chinese students studying here (in Seoul) rallied in support of the torch relay for the Beijing Olympics in August. As the (Chinese) students scuffled with South Korean anti-Beijing demonstrators along the streets in parts of Seoul, they were seen throwing rocks, chunks of wood, water bottles and drinks cans at the crowd.
During the process, a journalist and a police officer were hit on the head with a weapon carried and thrown by pro-Chinese supporters. Four people, including a Chinese student hurling a stone at other protesters, were arrested yesterday for disrupting the relay, police said. As the news of the violent protest spread nationwide, Korean citizens fumed with anger.
"The Chinese should be very ashamed of what happened yesterday and what has been happening so far," said Kang Shin-ho, 27, a Seoul citizen. "Since there were thousands of South Korean police already on site to protect the torch throughout the relay, there was no reason for any violence, and it is also against the Olympic spirit."
A 39-year-old company official who wished to be identified only by his family name Kim, said the Chinese should have respected the law of the country they were in, which stresses non-violent protests. "
-reprinted from an article written by Cho Ji-hyun