The Law of the Street

Look what happened yesterday when the Korean government tried to engage its citizens in public discourse on a Free Trade Agreement with the United States.

The hearing, organized by the Trade Ministry, had just begun at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry building in central Seoul when the protesters interrupted a speech by Kim Jong-hoon, Korea’s chief negotiator, in its opening moments. Catcalls rained down on Mr. Kim, and several protesters approached the podium, scuffling with government officials who tried to intervene.

After about 10 minutes, Mr. Kim withdrew and the session was postponed until the afternoon.

It was no more successful. Protesters again charged for the podium, shouting, pushing and shoving and jabbing fingers into Mr. Kim’s face. The meeting broke down into knots of pushing, shoving protesters and bureaucrats before the ministry gave up and canceled the second attempt.

The article makes no mention of arrests, although it does report that the government gave up and yielded the debate to the thugs. I wonder how many voters were prescient enough to set aside real questions about the FTA because they didn’t want to be whacked or trampled in a melee. That’s how lawlessness drives out debate, and an illustration of how democracy cannot survive without the protection of law.