Members of the Korean University Students' Progressive Alliance (Dajinyeon) were arrested by police after staging a surprise protest while attempting to enter the US Embassy in Seoul.
The Jongno Police Station in Seoul said Tuesday that it had arrested eight Dajinyeon members on the spot on charges of violating the Assembly and Demonstration Act.
The members reportedly held a surprise rally denouncing Commander Xavier Brunson on the sidewalk in front of the main gate of the US Embassy in Jongno-gu, Seoul, at around noon that day, and attempted to enter the embassy.
When police ordered them to disperse, the Dajinyeon members strongly resisted by lying on the road and shouting slogans, according to reports. Even inside the transport vehicle, they held up placards with phrases such as "Brunson, who insulted our sovereignty, leave this land" and "Withdraw the US military base, the root cause of war."
Dajinyeon claims that remarks Commander Brunson made last month before the US Congress regarding the transfer of wartime operational control constitute an infringement of sovereignty. At the time, Commander Brunson said, "Political expediency should not outpace conditions."
Police believe the members held an unregistered assembly and plan to investigate the exact circumstances of the incident.
