The South Korean government has vowed to crack down on protests ahead of a planned rally in the capital, Seoul.
Workers, farmers, teachers and social activists plan to take to the streets on December 5 to protest the government’s labor reforms and its plans to lift agricultural protection and impose its own history textbooks on schools.
In a nationally-televised address on Friday, Justice Minister Kim Hyun-woong vowed zero tolerance, saying the government would “eradicate” any public disorder and make violators “pay the price.”
Kim had issued a similar warning before a huge anti-government rally in Seoul earlier this month, which attracted around 60,000 people. The protest saw numerous clashes between protestors and police, prompting President Park Geun-hye to urge strong measures against future demonstrations.
