Protest held in Seoul against FTA with U.S.

About 1,000 people gathered in Seoul's financial district of Yeouido on Friday to protest against the ratification of the long-delayed free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States at the National Assembly. The protesters claimed the FTA is an unfair deal that only benefits the United States, and strongly denounced the move by the government and the ruling party to pass the agreement. Clashes broke out between the demonstrators and police as the protesters tried to march to the National Assembly. Police used water bombs to suppress the protesters. Local media reported that dozens of the demonstrators were taken by police while attempting to break into the National Assembly. The trade pact, first signed in 2007 and then modified last year, has been one of the most contentious issues in the National Assembly here amid strong opposition objections. The main opposition Democratic Party demands a partial renegotiation of the trade deal approved by the U.S. Congress earlier this month.