GingerBugielski
19 students were arrested on October 18 for climbing an American ambassador's house in Seoul to protest the country's military presence.
The group claiming to be a coalition of progressive college students posted a few photos on Facebook showing members using ladders to climb into the wall of Ambassador Harry Harris's house. The group of students held up the banner "Let's leave this land to Harris" and accused the US of asking South Korea to raise 500% of the cost to maintain about 28,500 soldiers in the country.
Group of students holding banners inside the Harris ambassador's residence in Seoul Photo: Yonhap
The group of students chanted the slogan "Stop interfering with our internal affairs", "Let's go away", "We don't need the US military", before being taken away by the police.
William Coleman, spokesman for the US embassy in Seoul, today issued a statement confirming that about 20 Korean nationals illegally invaded the residence of Ambassador Harris.
"We are extremely concerned about the encroachment of the ambassador's private residence and require Korea to protect all diplomatic missions and diplomatic missions," Coleman added.
The South Korean Foreign Ministry said it had asked for increased security for the US Embassy and the ambassador's residence. "Any harm or attack on the diplomatic mission cannot be justified under any circumstances. The Government will take all appropriate measures to protect the mission and prevent any acts that affect its welfare." their interests, "the ministry issued a statement.
US Ambassador to Korea Harry Harris Photo: Reuters.
A police official said the group of students was taken to the police station for questioning.
This is the second time the US Ambassador's home in Seoul has been illegally breached in 14 months. Last January, a group of students tried to break into the US embassy in Seoul before being stopped by police.
US President Donald Trump has previously pressured South Korea to increase its financial contribution to the U.S. garrison and threatened to withdraw 28,500 troops from the country if Seoul did not bear the additional financial obligations. This pressure on Trump made many observers worried about the future relationship of the military allies that has lasted for decades.
