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Recollection on the blast of the Gureombi Rock and oppression on international activists

Photo and caption by Fox David/ March 11th, 2012
GANGJEONG, Jeju Special Self-governing Province, South Korea

1 year has passed

March 7th, 2013 was the date commemorating one year anniversary on the navy’s blast of the Gureombi Rock despite people’s fierce opposition to it.

The people’s struggles to save the Gureombi Rock, the absolute preservation coastal area of the Gangjeong village, reached one of their highest points during the time when the blast was continued for two months since March 7, 2012.

Photo by Lee Wooki, March 6, 2012/ Just one day before the start of the blast, tension was already being formed as people made efforts to stop the explosive-loaded trucks from a gun powder factory. For more photos by Lee Wooki who reminds the atmosphere of March 6, 2012, see here.

A recollection video on March 7, 2012, here.

On March 2, 2013, there was a nationwide citizens’ rally in the Gangjeong village, which commemorated it. See the days’ photos and video, here.

The below is a small recollection and is focused on the oppression on international activists. It might not fully include all the happenings. Please pardon for any missing in advance.

Why the Gureombi Rock?

It was because as a villager has laid bare his heart, “Gangjeong is the Gureombi. Gureombi is the Gangjeong.” The one-body andesite that extends about 1 km from the east and west of the coast is very rare in the dominantly basalt-formed Jeju Island that was created by volcanic activity. With its soft and smooth rock surface of which the forms are various, the fresh abundant spring water among those provides the habitats for diverse endangered species, such as red-feet crabs, Jejusaebaengii(Jeju fresh water shrimp), and narrow mouth toad. For villagers, it has been not only a life ground for making living, but for maintaining community spirit and meditation on life. It is a site where one realizes that it is the very site that one has looked for somehow: The wholeness of life.

Such common feeling and idea on the Gureombi Rock was one motivation that could strengthen people’s unity against the Government’s merciless destruction of the Gureombi Rock, the nature, the peace, and ourselves somehow.

Further, the water mattered.

Headline Jeju, March 9, 2012 (Original source: Gangjeong Village Association) / Water became soon contaminated after the Navy’s first blasting on Gureombi rock. On the day, the woman who took this photo in the Metboori, the east part of the base project area, was also arrested though released soon.

The underground water underneath the Gureombi rock is highly guessed by the villagers to be connected with the Gangjeong stream that feeds 70% of the citizens in the Seogwipo City (the southern part of the Island). Beside that, the Gangjeong Sea is known as the cleanest and most beautiful sea throughout the Jeju Island, being the only UNESCO-designated soft coral habitats and one of the most frequent sites of the Indo-Pacific bottle nose dolphins, the IUCN-listed species.

Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo who had lived in the Gureombi Rock for three years until the navy forcefully set up its fence on Sept. 2, 2011, in an effort to stop the naval base project, was being imprisoned for the 3rd time and was in the hunger strike. As the blast started on March 7, he hit his 28th fast day. He stopped even water and salt since the day until his release on March 20.

March 4, 2013. One year later. “Illegal construction site/ The construction companies eventually broke the silt protectors while they unreasonably push those. The pristine Gangjoeng Sea where soft coral and Indo-Pacific bottle nose dolphins have been dancing is being destroyed (Photo and caption by Park Incheon/ Fwd by Saltcandy Yohan)”

The blast was unjustly forced through political fraud.

For the two months, the navy blasted about 10% of the Gureombi Rock: East and west parts of it to build the caisson production area and shipment site.

The National Network of Korean Civil Society for Opposing to the Naval Base in Jeju Island stated in recollection of one year ago, on March 7, 2013. See the whole Korean statement, here:

On Feb. 14,[2012], the technical verification committee on the Civilian-Military Complex for Tour Beauty issued its last report and acknowledged the fact that: “If the current execution design for the Jeju naval base construction is [continued to be] applied as it is, the original government pledge that it would build a civilian-military complex port for 150,000 ton cruise passenger ships cannot be kept. However, Lee Myung-Bak the President, declared that he would build the Jeju naval base construction without any explanation on it. Then the Prime Minster who had written in his facebook that the civilian-military complex port for tour beauty is impossible to be realized suddenly changed his attitude and started to push the construction. The Minister of Prime Office held the related government institutes’ measure meeting joined by the National Police Agency and Coast Guard etc. to support the enforcement of construction declared by the President, followed by assertion that there is no problem in the base construction, one-sidedly accepting the simulation report presented by the Ministry of National Defense on [Feb.] 23. Then it enforced the blast of the Gureombi Rock with a rush on [March] 7, [2012].

It was such an unjust and unreasonable process even Woo Keun-Min, the Island governor and members of the ruling conservative Saenuri Party opposed. See here and here.

A second 4.3: The human rights violation reached its highest point during the blast.

For 28 days alone since the start of the blast on the Gureombi Rock, more than 90 people were arrested while 20 people, swooned, were carried in ambulance for the police violence. Still the village sirens for protest rang everyday. For more, see here.

On March 9, the 3rd day of people’s war against the blast alone, 30 people including Angie Zelter, Nobel Peace nominee, Catholic and Protestant missionaries were violently arrested. Four people were carried to hospital. See the Dungree video in the below. On the day alone, the siren rang six times.

Following the arrest of Rev. Lee Jeong-Hoon and Jesuit priest, Kim Jeong-Wook on March 11 ( imprisoned on the day and released on April 4), Dr. Song Kang-Ho was eventually imprisoned for his fierce struggle on April 3 (released on Sept. 28). As for the navy and police’s abuse of their power, Mr. Lim Ho-Young was another victim. Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo who was arrested and imprisoned since Jan. 30 could be released only on March 20, after more than 42 days’ prison fast. Fr. Mun Jeong-Hyeon who fell from the 7 m tetra pod during his protest to the reckless coast guard on April 6 would suffer from the back and waist pain for long time despite his unexpected quick release from the hospital.

The people entered into the Gureombi Rock, risking high sea waves, security-filled fences, dangerously piled up tetra pods, and police and navy threat. The people chained themselves to vehicles to stop the explosive cars, eventually being taken away of all their cars. The cars were returned back only six months later. The people connected their arms with pipes to stop the explosive cars, only to be met by police’s merciless breaking down of those pipes with hammer (March 19) and electric saw (April 16).

It was the 2nd 4.3 in the sense that the base project is pushed despite people’s opposition, by the foreign (United States)and outside power(main land). On Feb. 24, the Chief of the Seogwipo Police Station had been informally decided to be changed with Lee Dong-Min, a figure from the main land. It was coincided with an opening of the Jeju International Peace Conference (the 20th anniversary of the Global Network against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space)

With the start of the blast, about 700 police personnel from the main land arrived the Jeju, reminding the 4.3 incident period from 1947 to 1954 when the central Rhee Syngman government, a U.S. puppet then, dispatched military, para-military, and police of the main land to mercilessly suppress the people’s uprising in the Island.

Oppressions on international activists were never precedent.

On Feb. 26, 6 Koreans and 10 international peace activists including seven Global Network members, such as Bruce Gagnon and Dave Webb were arrested while they crawled under the razor wire on the Gureombi Rock. See the report on it here.

After the blast of the Gureombi Rock started, the actions by international activists and oppression on them were remarkable. Angie Zelter who entered the Gureombi Rock on Feb. 26 was eventually arrested on March 9 when she entered the fence. The Daelim company thugs’ violence on her during the process was one of the subjects of people’s criticism on March 10 Press Conference. You can see her own account on March 9 arrest, after her release here.

It was the time that oppression on international activists started in earnest. Benjamin Monnet who first came to Gangjeong in May 2011 and had stayed for months eventually got injunction order on March 14 after his arrest on March 12 (See here). Angie Zelter who was arrested again on March 12 got exit order on March 15, as well. See the people’s statement in relation to it, here and Angie Zelter’s here.

Source: Organizing Notes, March 15, 2012/ People’s Press Conference on March 15, 2012

To be coincident, Elliot Adams (Past President of the VfP), Mike Hastie, Tarak Kauff, three members of the Veterans for Peace, US, were violently and inhumanly denied entries on March 14 while their intention was to ‘stand in solidarity with the villagers.’ See here. Bruce Gagnon states that ‘the South Korean authorities had a photo of each of them in their hands and told them they would not be allowed to enter Jeju Island.’ You can see the report here . And the statement by the VfP, here. Remarkably, it was for the first time that the members of the VfP, United States, were denied entry into South Korea, signifying that the naval base project is a highly sensitive matter for the authorities of the United States and South Korean governments.

It was not only those three VfP members. During the two months of March and April, 5 people from Okinawa and Japan were denied entries. They are Nakamura Sugae and her daughter(March 27), Ryuji Yagi ( March 31), Umisedo Yutaka (Okinawa, April 2), Tomiyama Masahiro (Okinawa, April 6). From August 26, 2011 to Oct. 16, 2012, the total people who were denied entries to Korea, in relation to the Jeju naval base issue, were at least 20, while the total numbers are 24. It is because the last three people were repeatedly denied entries during the WCC period, Sept. 6 to 15, 2012. In June, even an international Catholic priest was threatened to be deported. See here. For the whole matters on the deportation, see here.

Though, not deported, harasses on international activists were remarkable. Paco Booyah reported on the incident of March 24, 2012. See here.

The oppression on internationals especially during the time of the blast on the Gureombi Rock signified the growing international solidarity to the threat of the United States and South Korean authorities, otherwise.

The International peace activists have often gotten unjust disposal from the South Korean authorities for their peaceful protests against the war-base building in the Jeju. We so thank them and hope to share with you the urgency to protect international activists who fight to save the Peace Island.

Post by Pat Cunningham/ “Stop the Oppression on International Peace Activists”
It was the sign that the village international team held on March 2 upon the 1st year anniversary of the blast on the Gureombi Rock. The oppression on internationals were in earnest with the start of the blast on the Gureombi Rock on March 7, 2012.

Remembering international peace messages. Time to strengthen solidarity for peace

Beside Benjamin Monnet who still sends his deep friendship and solidarity with Gangjeong, here is a heart-touching message from Angie Zelter who sent us a message on the 1st anniversary of the Gureombi Rock-blast:

Source: Angie Zelter in Gangjeong on March 8, 2012, 104th International Women’s Day. She held the Earth flagwith Jeong Young-Hee, chairwoman of the Village Women’s Committee to Stop the Naval Base.

Dear Jeju Friends, a year ago I was with you in Gangjeong, crying as the blasting of the sacred rocks started. I know your struggle continues and is very hard and long. You are courageous and are fighting for all of us. Our struggles are the same – to fight against war, oppression, and the abuses of corporate power. I am sorry I cannot be with you but know that I share your pain and struggle.’

Here in the UK I have just started a new direct action campaign to try to stop the replacement of our nuclear weapon system and persuade the Government to give them up. It is linked with your struggle as we must all in our own ways stop our Governments from wasting resources and lives on war preparations.

I send you much love and solidarity and will never forget you. Please send my greetings to all those whose knew me and whose emails I do not have.

Love and hugs, Angie.

( Angie Zelter on March 7, 2013)

The below video (by Yang Dong-Kyu) was taken for the 4.3-memorizing event in Jeju, just before Angie Zelter’s leave of the village where she stayed for a month. It is always great to remember all the valuable experience of international solidarity and to strengthen it. We pay our deep gratitude to all the international friends who have shown friendship and solidarity despite serious hardships that they had to suffer from, continuously reminding us that the universe and we are one.

March 10, 2013
“The struggle for Harmony continues” Benjamin Monnet’s postcards to people in Gangjeong
We called him, “Benj.’ The villagers used to call him, ‘Benjari,’ which sounds similar to the name of a fish, “jari,’ very common in the Jeju Island. It was Miryang, a village woman, who put him with such nickname. A villager poet, Kim Sung-Gyu wrote a poem for ‘Benjari,’ from the intimate feeling toward him. Benjamin Monnet, a French peace maker, as we often miss him now, has been our close friend. Despite the different language, he loves Gangjeong, Gureombi, and prays for the peace and lives of the Jeju. He first came to Gangjeong upon the moment of Women’s film festival in May, 2011. Since then, Gangjeong became a kind of his spiritual hometown.

His feeling on justice was very strong so because of it, he got the injunction order on March 14, 2012. He was inhumanly forcefully deported from Korea on March 15. On the day, a UK activist and Nobel Peace nominee, Angie Zelter, also got the order of forceful exit on her planned date (See more on it, here). It happened that three members of the Veterans for Peace of the United States were also violently deported on March 14 (See more on it, here). It was a time that the government, changing the chief of the Seogwipo Police station with a figure from the mainland, forcefully started to blast 10 % of the Gureombi Rock, on March 7, 2012. It was a time that 10 internationals had been arrested on Feb. 26 when they tried to enter the Gureombi Rock underneath a wire razor that was suddenly set up on Feb. 24, the 1^st day of the Jeju International Peace Conference (20^th anniversary of the Global Network against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space). See more on it here. The oppression on international peace activists around the time and since then have been remarkable. There have been at least 20 internationals that have been denied entries to South Korea, related to the issue of the naval base project in Gangjeong from Aug. 26, 2011 (See the summary on it, here)

Benj has continued supports on Gangjeong. In May 2012, we could see him with Seri in Paris for the solidarity protest with the struggle in Gnagjeong (See the video here)

Thanks to Seri who recently visited him, we could get his postcards to the Gangjeong Village international team, villagers and Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo. We share those here.
1. Remembering Benj
Photo by Lee Wooki

On March 12, 2012, he climbed up a crane with Kim Seri. He was arrested for the 3^rd time and got the injunction order from the Immigration Office two days later. For the detailed situations, please click here. After injunction, he filed a suit against the Jeju Immigration Office for the ‘cancellation on the injunction and supervision orders,’ through representative of him. The first trial was on June 13, 202 (related Korean article). However, the Administrative department of the Jeju District Court dismissed his suit saying he did not have the qualification for an applicant on July 15, 2012(related article). The court said, “Mr. Monnet brought about not a little obstacles in the progress of the [Jeju naval base] project by joining many times in the opposition rallies against the [project] and has gotten the warnings on his long-term visit…The injunction order to devise for the interest and safety of a nation is never neither a excessive deviation nor abuse of discretionary power.” To the surprise, the judge was Mr. Oh Hyun-Kyu who made a sentence of direct arrest of Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo from the court on Feb. 1 (See here)

On March 12, Benj and Seri stopped the destruction of the Gureombi Rock for two hours in suim suits in cold weather. The beautiful site that they tried to keep has now become the ugly 3~4000 ton caisson production area. The navy eventually blasted the 10 % of the Gureombi Rock in the east and west parts of it during March and April last year. And It started to produce caissons for 24 hours since Oct. 25, 2012. However, we will restore the Gureombi Rock unless our hearts and determination disappear.

His message shows his continuous heart for the Gangjeong and Gureombi Rock. We thank and miss him, our brother!

2. Benj’s postcard to the Gangjeong Village international team and villagers

Dear Gangjeong International Team, Villagers

Kathmandu, Nepal

Feb. 17, 2013

Thanks to Seri, I have well received all your gifts. I truly appreciate it. So please receive some hand-made embroidered t-shirt of my creation. I was thinking to put them on website, Peace Center for the people to buy it. The proceedings of the sales could help to strengthen the movement or pay the court fines. What do you think? We can also sew a Korean version…I am searching for new ways to help Gangjeong. I am in contact with two French journalists who are ready to make a documentary about Gangjeong situation.

With patience, determination & Universal love, Benjari

3. Benj’s postcard to Yang Yoon-Mo

Photo of the postcard: Tashi R Ghale/ Tilicho lake, the highest lake in the world

Kathmandu, Nepal, 17 Feb. 13

Professor Yang,

I ignore where you are, But I heard you were surprisingly sentenced to jail for 18 months. I sent some t-shirts to Gangjeong with “Free Yang Yoon-Mo ♡“ embroidery. Hoping the people will buy it in solidarity with our resistance movement.

I remember when we were in the cell together, at Dongbu in March 2012.

You were practicing some kind of meditation.

As a meditator, I wish that inner-insight practices, will help you to pass sense fully through the term of your sentence-Concentrating on your breathing and observing your inner sensation to purify your mind. You will come out stronger.

Hopefully, the picture of this Himalaya landscape will inspire you-

With Patience, Determination, and universal love

Benjamin

Photo by Benj

“The struggle for Harmony continues.

~ FREE Pr YANG YOON MO ~
Here is a picture of Pr Yang holding a photo of the undercover police beating him, he said humorously to a villager: “Keep this photo, someday it will worth millions!”” (Benj)

4. T-shirts to people

The front side of t-shirt sent to mayor Kang Dong-Kyun. While the front is of the embroidary letters of “Why Crimes Against Humanity?,” the letters of ‘savejejunow.org’ is described at the end of a sleeve. One green T-shirt is of the embroidary letters of ‘Free Yang Yoon-Mo.’ Benj designed himself and asked embroidaries. As seen in the below photos, T-shirts for women are green while the T-shirts for men are blue and black.

The back side of T-shirt is the embroidary letter of “Jeju Island, Hiroshima, Himalaya.” In the right bottom of the image, it is signed in embroidary of ‘Benj’.

Photo by the Village International team/ On Feb. 28, Mr. Koh Gilchun, Jeju artist, and Oh Soon-Hee (Sister of the ‘Jiseul‘ movie director, Oh Myul ) Visited Yang-Yoon-Mo and showed him his t-shirts to the delight of Yang Yoon-Mo. Benj’s postcard to Prof. Yang was also delivered to him on the day.

5. Benj is always with us.

Photo by Gonyang/ Post by Paco Booyah

The banner hung in the background of the photo is what Benj designed and Mr. Lim Ho-Young (media team leader then) made a production for the Jeju International Peace Conference (the 20^th anniversary of the Global Netwwork against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space) from Feb. 24 to 26, 2012. Whenever we see this banner, we always think of Benj

Photo ⓒ Lee Song-Sou/ Source: Ohmynews, March 31, 2012

Photoⓒ Kang So-Young/ Source: Ohmynews, March 31, 2012
February 28, 2013
Gangjeong Village Story: Monthly News from the Struggle | February 2013 Issue

In this month’s issue:
Launch of the new demilitarize Jeju campaign, Samsung above the law?, U.S. military wrecks in coral reef, more prisoner releases, Yang Yoon-Mo arrested and on hunger strick, Interview with former prisoner, continued environmental regulation problems, and more!

Download PDF

February 23, 2013
International Solidarity Messages for Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo

Update: See the photos on the candle vigil for Yang Yoon-Mo in front of the Jeju prison, here, here and here

Update: See the photos of solidarity for Yang Yoon-Mo in Okinawa, see here.

………………………………………………….

International Solidarity Messages for Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo

(Feb. 11 to 14, 2013)

The Gangjeong Village International Team has requested the peacemakers in the world to send the solidarity message for Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo with about 100words, through the website and facebooks. Here are the messages collected from Feb. 11 to 14. You can see the Korean translations here. Thanks so much, friends to send the messages. Thanks, Mr. Kang Dong-Seok, and Ms. Park Youn-Ae, for translation.

# Alphabet order by last name

Catherine Christie

Dear Professor Yang,
From the U.N. Environmental Sabbath Program:

We join with the earth and with each other,
To bring new life to the land
To restore the waters
To refresh the air

We join with the earth and with each other,
To renew the fields
To care for the plants
To protect the creatures

We join with the earth and with each other,
To celebrate the seas
To rejoice in the sunlight
To sing the song of the stars

We join with the earth and with each other,
To recreate the human community
To promote peace and justice
To remember our children of the earth

We join with the earth and with each other
We join together as many and diverse expressions of one loving mystery:
For the healing of the earth and the renewal of all life.

Professor Yang – you have showed us this prayer in your living and acting for Gangjeong land and sea. Thank you. –

Catherine Christie, Seoul

Coco (Peninsula Peace & Justice of Blue Hill, Maine, United States)

We invite you to sing these lightly revised words from Les Miserables as Mr. Yang liked the movie and the book so much:

Will you join with us today?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Somewhere beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Do you hear the people sing?
Say, do you hear the distant drums?
It is the future that they bring
When tomorrow comes…

Peninsula Peace & Justice of Blue Hill, Maine, sings with you as we hold Mr. Yang in our thoughts during his courageous hunger strike. May his release from his unjust imprisonment be swift.

(Coco on behalf of the Peninsula Peace & Justice of Blue Hill, Maine, USA)

Ron Engel

‘Dear Professor Yang Yoon-Mo,
We have never met in person but it is clear that we have met in spirit.
When you say your faith is to save the things of beauty in the world we understand and share this with you.
We visited Gangjeong Village last September and we beheld there a thing of beauty that should be preserved.
We tried to bring this to the attention of the world through the World Conservation Congress with the help of wonderful people like.
We revere your courage and commitment on behalf of the beauty of the people and place of Gangjeong Village and stand in solidarity with you.

Ron and Joan’

# Ron Engel has greatly supported the Gangjeong village and made a beautiful speech for Gagjeong on Sept. 15 during the 2012 WCC Jeju. You can hear Ron’s speech on Sept. 15, here.

Bruce Gagnon

‘Professor Yang:

I am once again deeply touched by your determined stand to hunger strike while in jail to call attention to the illegal and unjust “laws” that protect the destruction of nature so an insane and provocative Navy base in Gangjeong can be built. How can good people go to jail for trying to protect nature while people who destroy the future are not charged with any crimes?

I can assure you that I will do all that I can to help educate people in the US and around the world about the struggle to stop the Navy base.

Please know that you are not alone in your effort. Please take good care of yourself. You are important to all of us.

For justice and peace,

Bruce K. Gagnon
Coordinator
Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
globalnet@mindspring.com
www.space4peace.org
http://space4peace.blogspot.com/ (blog)

Thank God men cannot fly, and lay waste the sky as well as the earth. ~Henry David Thoreau’

Andrew Jackson

I can’t think of a more perfect example of an ‘unharmful gentle soul misplaced inside a jail’ than Yang Yoon Mo. He has already been imprisoned for the struggle for peace and nature on Jeju, and has suffered greatly due to his hunger strikes in prison. The ridiculous South Korean law against ‘obstructing business’ is designed to frustrate legitimate protest, and in Gangjeong peacemakers can be picked off at will for huge fines or spells in prison.

One of my favourite videos about the Gangjeong struggle is Yang Yoon Mo interviewed at The Gurumbi rock. In this long interview his words are full of intelligence, wisdom, morality, justice and love. He is overflowing with the human qualities that can not even be traced among the greedy, the blind, the ignorant and the corrupt who are bringing this disaster to Jeju. His return to jail, following appealing the terms of his probation, is the result of spite, and possibly insanity, in one judge. The decision must be reversed.

Last year I was fortunate to visit Gangjeong for a few days in summer. I can’t count the number of wonderful, kind, loving people I met. I also met Yang Yoon Mo, but it was not until my last night in Gangjeong that I realised this quiet, dignified, seemingly elderly man, who I had greeted daily at the destruction site gates and who had sat silently as we drank rice wine outdoors with villagers in the evening, was the youthful-looking middle aged guy in the Gurumbi interview. His 70 day hunger strike seemed to have changed his physique and appearance. I was pleased I could express my admiration to him and receive words of kindness from this wonderful man.

The news of Yang Yoon Mo’s imprisonment is simply terrible. His renewed hunger strike is something I wish was not happening. But one can only respect his decision and pray that liberty and health is restored swiftly to this ‘unharmful gentle soul’.

FREE YANG YOON MO!!

Andrew Jackson

London

Masami Kawamura

Message from Okinawa to Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo

The Okinawan islanders’ hearts are broken to hear that you are in prison again.
We send our solidarity to you, Prof. Yang Yoo-Mo, brave activist, struggling for the peace, environment and justice of Jeju.

While we light candles in Okinawa together with Gangeong people on February 15, we believe, Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo, you yourself are the candle which shows us the right direction to move on to.
You are not alone. We stand with you.

Masami Kawamura
Okinawa Outreach

Renie Wong Lindley

‘Dear Yang Yoon-Mo,

I understand why the Gureombi Rock is so beautiful to you. I too love rocks. In California I have hiked far above the timberline where there is only sun, rock and water and where the energy between those simple forces make a profusion of life happen. Our lives belong to these forces. You are not misled. You are led by your heart, your soul.
I will think of you every day and hold you in the Light.

Renie Lindley
Quaker, Honolulu Friends Meeting.’

Okamoto Yukiko

日本語で書くことをお許し下さい。

ヤン先生が早く解放されることを強く望んでいます。
私は、動画で拝見した、
ヤン先生がクロンビ岩の上で静かに語っている姿を、
いつも鮮やかに思い描いています。

済州島の海軍基地計画は、
沖縄での新しい米軍基地の建設と同様、
アメリカの世界戦略の一環です。
済州島の苦しみは、私たち沖縄の苦しみであり、
済州島の闘いは、私たち沖縄の闘いです。

沖縄では、知事をはじめ全ての市町村長、議会、住民の反対にもかかわらず、
日米政府は辺野古に基地を造ろうとあがき、
米軍の新型輸送機MV22オスプレイを強行配備してきました。

私たちは、沖縄で、頑張ります。
平和な日々を取り戻すまで、共にあることを願っています。

岡本由希子okamoto yukiko
（沖縄平和市民連絡会）

Judy Robbins, Peninsula Peace & Justice of Blue Hill, Maine, USA

To the people of Gangjeong Village and Jeju, Island of Peace.
The Peninsula Peace & Justice Committee of Blue Hill, Maine, USA, sends greetings and solidarity for your struggle for justice and peace. The courage and love of Mr. Yang inspires the world to be strong and to sustain. We light a candle for you in the 15th day of your fast. Thank you.

Peter Simpson

My name is Peter Simpson, and I am an associate professor at Okinawa International University. As a teacher, and a responsible human being, I feel it is my duty to raise awareness of the environmental crisis facing our planet, and to make sure that we leave a legacy of peace, equal rights and environmental justice. For this reason I support Professor Yang Yoon-Mo’s responsible action in trying to prevent the destruction of Gureombi and support the campaign for his immediate release from jail.

Yuzi Tanaka

私は昨年、済州島に訪れました。
そこで米軍基地問題に向き合う済州の皆さんを知りました。
東アジアを緊張させる米軍基地も必要無いし、
済州の自然を大切にして欲しい。

そしてYang Yoon-Moさんを解放してください。

Last year, I visited the island of Jeju.
I know all of you facing the problem Jeju U.S. military base there.
You also do not need to strain the U.S. military base in East Asia, I want to cherish the nature of Jeju.

Please free up and Mr. Yang Yoon-Mo.

田中　雄二
Yuzi Tanaka

Regis Tremblay

‘Dear Professor Yang;

You have my great admiration for your principled stand against the construction of this base in Gangjeong Village.

I met you while I was in Gangjeong during September of last year. I was there to film a documentary about Jeju and have many images and video clips of you. At the present, I am in post-production of my film and hoping to receive funding from the Sundance Film Fund.

It was only at the end of my stay that I was able to visit the April 3rd Peace Museum. Our mutual friend, Gilchun Koh accompanied me. Until then, I could not understand why everyone, including Bishop Peter Kang were telling me I had to visit the museum in order to understand the protest. Gilchun’s exhibit overwhelmed me with sadness and grief.

I was angry, ashamed, and tearful at what I learned and came home determined to tell the whole story of the American complicity in Jeju and Korea since 1945. The film places the protests against the base in the broader context of the American military expansion in its attempt to encircle China and dominate and control the Pacific Ocean. The protest in Gangjeong represents the modern-day struggle of people around the world against militarism, violence, and the destruction of the environment, no to mention the total disregard for self-determination, human rights, and social justice.

The curator of the museum, with Gilchun’s help, provided me with 8 DVDs packed with archival film, photos, and documents that I will use in my film, including interviews with some of the survivors. I am also using film and photos from the U.S. National Archives and from the Associated Press.

I have already filmed interviews with Bruce Cumings, and Charles Hanley who wrote the book, The Bridge at No Gun Ri. These are very powerful and will add a great deal of credibility to the film. Also, Bruce Gagnon was interviewed about America’s real plans for world domination. It is an expose of the supposed Pax Americana.

I have created a 38 minute rough-cut of the film to apply for a grant from the Sundance Film Fund and to raise money by showing it to small Peace & Justice groups. The reaction is always the same. Some people cry, some express disbelief that their government could be guilty of these crimes, most are angry to learn, and nearly all ask what can they do. That is my hope for the film, that it will motivate people to take action.

Finally, I believe you have become a powerful symbol of the protest through your imprisonments and fasts and I thank you for the example you have set for the entire world.

Hardly a day goes by when I don’t think about you and the people of Gangjeong Village.

Peace to you, Professor Yang and thank you for your witness to peace and justice in the world,

Regis Tremblay
Maine, United States‘

Ana Traynin

‘Dear Prof. Yang,

I was so privileged to join a tour of Gangjeong village with you,
just a few days before they took you away.

Your peaceful yet strong and resilient character, recognition of real
beauty, love of nature and unbending struggle to save both will stay with me forever.

As Utah Phillips said “the degree to which you resist is the degree to which you are free.”

Prof. Yang, your courageous and self-transcending actions in the name of peace, even as the state steals your physical freedom, show the freedom you hold inside. You are a visionary and inspiration to us all.

I send you light and endless positive energy from this crazy world.

In solidarity,

Ana Traynin’

Hideki Yoshikawa

Solidarity Message to Prof. Yang Yoo-Mo from Okinawa:

Outraged by the repeated imprisonment of Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo,
Dismayed by the Korean government’s disregard for human rights and environmental justice,
Still encouraged by Prof. Yang Yoo-Mo’s determination to fight to keep Jeju Island as “the Island of Peace,”
I am sending my solidarity message to Prof. Yang Yoo-Mo and my friends in Jeju.

Hideki Yoshikawa
Citizens’ Network for Biodiversity in Okinawa
Save the Dugong Campaign Center

February 15, 2013
Yang Yoon-Mo will hit 15th day prison fast on Feb. 15

Update: You can see the collection of international solidarity messages upon Yang’s 15th prison fast day, here.

Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo who was arrested and imprisoned directly from the court on Feb. 1 hits his 15th prison fast on Feb. 15.

There is a peace candle culture event, praying for the release of Yang Yoon-Mo.

In front of the Jeju Prison, 7 pm, Feb. 15 (Friday), 2013

Hosted by the Gangjeong Village Association and People loving Yang Yoon-Mo

Source: Park Yongsung

If you could, please send a solidarity message for Yang Yoon-Mo no later than Feb. 13

: About 100 words, for the reason of translation, to the Gangjeong village international team (gangjeongintl@gmail.com)

: Update: You can see some solidarity messages in the bottom

You may also write letters to him (Prof. Yang can read Japanese):

Yang Yoon-Mo (No. 301)

Jeju Prison, 161 Ora-2 dong, Jeju City,

Jeju, the Demilitarized Peace Island, Korea

We thank Coco from the Maine, United States, who sent us a message days ago as the below.

‘Last night our peace and justice group distributed letter writing materials so Mr. Yang should be receiving letters of support soon. We also plan to paint a banner that we’ll carry to all rallies, regardless of the event, in the hopes to get questions from other activists as well as some TV media images. I’ll send a photo once the banner is made.’

Thank you.

…………………………………………………………….

More on Yang Yoon-Mo

A movie critic born in Jeju, summoned to save Beauty

Prof. Yang welcoming the visitors from Okinawa and Japan on the Gureombi Rock on April 2, 2011 (Source)

“I am a (movie) critic. The role of a critic is to save the beauty to the end of one’s life. I have been enthusiastic to be voluntary to promote wonderful movies. Some people who could not understand me used to say whether I am misled by heroism or not. However, it is my faith to save the beautiful things.”

It was Feb. 8, his 7^th prison fast day since his imprisonment on Feb. 1. He told his four visitors to the prison. The visitors included Mr. Kim Bok-Chul, Mr. Park Suk-Jin, Mr. Park Seung-Ho.

Prof. Yang looked peaceful and bright despite his status. The Gureombi Rock must be the venerable beauty for him that he is willing to pay his life.

In fact, his daily fast is carried out from hard resolution. According to Park Hee-Sou, Chairman of the Island Provincial Council, who visited Prof. Yang in the jail along with other two Council representatives and strongly recommended him stop of fast on Feb. 5, Prof. Yang said:

” I hear the sound of the Gureombi Rock being broken by construction(destruction) even sleep during the night. Even though I suffer every day, I am taking fast from the resolution that I have to inform the people the fact that the naval base construction itself is by evil law. If I spend one year and six months without difficulty, it means I acknowledge that I committed crimes.” ( Source)

However, it is true that his health has been rapidly weakened after the long time fasts of more than 74 days (including about 60 days’ prison fast) and 42 days (in jail, too) in 2011 and 2012 each. Many people hope him stop the fast from the worry of his health.

Photo by Kang Bang-Sou/ It was the inside of Prof. Yang’s tent on the Gureombi Rock from 2009 to 2011, until the navy forcefully set up the fence around the coast on Sept. 2, 2011. For the source, click here or here.

Prof. Yang who used to work in the villagers’ farming house in the village, April 10, 2010 (Source)

A movie critic who inherited the trauma of 4.3 incident

Prof. Yang protesting against naval base construction, lying on the tetra pod frames in the construction site on April 4, 2011, the next day of commemoration day of 4.3 incident. (Source)

As a Jeju native, he is personally connected to the April 3^rd incident (massacre and people’s uprising in the Jeju Island from 1947 to 1954). The younger brother of his grandmother (mother’s side) was one of the six victims killed by the bullets from the police governed by the US Army Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK) on March 1^st, 1947. It was the commemorating day of people’s independence movement in 1919 against the Japanese imperialism from which the Korea was liberated on Aug. 15, 1945. The incident on March 1st, 1947 sparkled the period of the 4.3 incident afterward.

Prof. Yang was also told that his grandfather of mothers’ side was killed, too, during the 4. 3 incident. He has said that he could not forget those stories throughout his life and those stories must have become the source of his current fierce struggle against the war base- building in the Jeju.

According to the result of the investigation of the truth by the National Committee for Investigation of the Truth about the Jeju April 3^rd Incident, the March 1 incident occurred when people’s complaints against the USAMGIK that governed South part of Korea from Sept. 9, 1945 to Aug. 15, 1948 were gradually spreading, while people’s expectation from liberation had become frustrated by the USAMGIK that allowed the succession of the police during the Japanese occupation under its governing.

The report reads (summarized and translated):

The US Army Military government recognizing that the commemoration rally on the 3.1 movement happening in the Jeju Island was led by the left wing [..] did not permit people’s street march and demanded them to change the rally venue to the Jeju west air field. However, about 30,000 crowd including the 17,000 people organized by the Namrodang (Workers Party of South Korea) and People’s Committee [..] etc. gathered near the North Jeju Elementary school. About 430 policemen including 330 from the Jeju and 100 from the main land carried security activities nearby.

After the event, the crowd started street march. At the time, a child was hit by a horse of a ranger. When the ranger was to continue to proceed whether he knew it or not, the crowd nearby him, infuriated to see the accident, ran into the site. The aiding armed policemen, mistaken that the crowd are to attack the police station, fired toward them. Six were killed and another six got heavy injuries.

The USAMGIK who did not know the whole truth of such firing incident asserted later that it was by self-defense, despite its acknowledgement of the wrongdoings. It also began to arrest the rally event staffs and students, defining the incident as the ‘incident of the protesters attacking the police station.’

The total civilian-government strike occurred from March 10, with the start from the Jeju Island government. About 40,000 people which are about 95 % of the whole workers from 23 institutes (which are mostly administrative institutes excluding the police and judiciary institutes), 105 schools, post offices, electric companies in the Jeju joined the strike. Even about 20 % of the Jeju police also joined the strike.

The Police started to roundup the strike-related personnel from March 15. During the process, another firing incident happened on March 17 when the crowd demanded the release of the prisoners. The police arrested about 500 people by April 10. Among the arrested, 66 policemen were laid-off and those men’s posts were replaced by those belonging to the West North Young People’s Association which was the right wing subjugation group that existed by the Korean War.The confrontation and conflict between the Jeju Island people and police and such group under the UAMGIK were more increased.

In the intelligence report by the UAMGIK on Match 19, 1947, the UAMGIK considered about 70 % of the Jeju Island people as the left wing or its sympathizers.

(Source)

Regarding the 4.3 incident, please also refer to “U.S. And South Korea Assault an Idlylic Island: Not For the First Time.” By S. Brian Wilson-Veterans for Peace. You may also refer to the ‘Summary of the Report’s Conclusion,’ here.

It is tragic that the Jeju Island, designated as the Global Peace Island by the South Korean government on Jan. 27, 2005, to overcome the pain of 4.3, is currently suffering again from the history still present. Prof. Yang bears the history of Jeju in the past and present in his own soul.

Drawing on the incident of March 1st, 1947, by Kang Yo-Bae, Jeju artist. The drawing is included in his famous drawing book on 4.3 incident (Source)

Jeju Artist Koh Gilchun’s works on 4.3 massacre and people’s uprising, displayed in the 4.3 Peace Park (Source)

Archive photo on the 4.3 incident (source)

February 15, 2013
Prisoner of Conscience, Park Seung-Ho, Released after 144 days’ Imprisonment

Park Seung-Ho who was arrested near the communal restaurant in the village on Sept. 14, 2012 (during the 2012 WCC period) was released on bail on Feb. 5, 2013 after 144 days’ imprisonment. He had been arrested for the reason that he had not responded to the police call. However, the truth is that he had been targeted by the police for a long time for his struggles against unjust government policies. We hope Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo who was arrested and imprisoned directly from the court will be freed soon, also.

Around 6:30 pm he was out of prison in the rainy evening.

People welcoming Park Seung-Ho

Photo by Park Yongsung/ Tofu is a traditional food in Korea for the prisoners who were just released.

Returning to the village, Park Seung-Ho made a short statement to the people in the Peace Center where people were busy to prepare for distribution of materials during the public relationship event throughout the Island.

February 6, 2013
Free Yang Yoon-Mo!: Jailed Movie Critic, Yang Yoon-Mo, Starts Hunger Strike
Update (March 24) Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo’s oral statement ending 52 days’ prison fast

Update (Feb. 11): Yang Yoon-Mo will hit 15th day prison fast on Feb. 15: More on Yang Yoon-Mo

Source: Paco Booyah
1. Yang Yoon-Mo, a movie critic, was arrested directly from the court
Yang Yoon-Mo, a movie critic and one of the prominent opponents against the Jeju naval base project was directly arrested and jailed from the court on Feb. 1, 2013 . It is his 4^th time imprisonment. He is the one who has been jailed the most numerous times during the struggle against the base project by now. (see the below for the details) He was also one of the subjects of the individual complaints to the UN Human Rights Council in 2012.

He is currently in prison and you may write encouraging and supporting letters to him:

Yang Yoon-Mo(No. 301)

Jeju Prison, 161 Ora-2dong, Jeju City, Jeju, the Peace Island, Korea

(Another prisoner, Park Seung-Ho (No. 290) hit 142nd day in prison as of Feb. 3, 2013. Update: Park Seung-Ho was released on Feb. 5, after 144 days’ imprisonment. )

The criminal department No. 4 of the higher court in Jeju (Judge: Oh Hyun-Kyu), annulling the 1^st court decisions of probation etc. on him, sentenced 1 year and six months imprisonment against him who has been charged of obstruction of business etc (Refer to the Korean articles). Such court arrest has not occurred before his case in the struggle to stop the base project. He also became the first opponent against the base project who got an actual prison sentence. See also here.

The cases of the 1^st trials have been annexed in the trial sentence of appeal on Feb. 1. Those are the cases of the 1^st court decisions on June 1, 2011 (After the arrest on April 16, 2011, charged of obstruction of business, violation on the punishment on the violence Act etc. The court decision on him was 1 year and six months imprisonment with two year suspension), on March 20, 2012 (After the arrest on Jan. 30, 2012, charged of obstruction of business etc. The court decision on him was 10 months imprisonment with two year suspension), and on the charge of violation on the Public Water Act ( That was for a sit-in tent in the Gureombi Rock. He was sentenced ‘no guilty,’ in this case)

Given that it was a decision on his appeal aginst the 1^st court decision, such an unusual and harsh sentence made people confirm that it was a political retaliation not only against him whose health is already weak for the protest fasts twice in 2011 (more than 74 days) and 41 days (2012) but also the whole opposition movement people against the Jeju naval base project, especially after the government manipulated its political ground to push the base project with a false report on the government-supervised simulation ‘show’ on Jan. 31. It is also a violence that preludes merciless oppression on human rights and environmental destruction.

Source: Paco Booyah

Accidentally Feb. 1 was his birthday and all of his friends and colleagues were shocked, sad, and infuriated. Dr. Song Kang-Ho has been also arrested on his birthday on April 1, 2012 and got the court decision of imprisonment on the anniversary of 4.3, same year.

Amazingly the notification letter by the Jeju district court on Feb. 1, 2013 is written for the reason of imprisoning him only in one line that reads that ‘the accused has a reason to run away.’ It is a serious debasement on a man who has put his fate on the Gurembi Rock and a film critic who was acknowledged with a ‘special art award’ from the Jeju People’s Artist Federation on Dec. 28, 2012, for his actual participation in history in person (Korean article). It is also immoral and unjust attitude for the South Korean oligarchies including the court to patch up their baseless accusation on him with a line.

Photo by Cho Sung-Bong (Source)

Rev. Jeong Yeon-Gil who was released on Dec. 12 after 98 days’ imprisonment criticized the court decision against Yang on Feb. 1, by citing the below, which shows the contrast between it and Constitution.

Oh Hyun-Kyu, the judge who sentenced Yang and imprisoned him from the court reads: “The accused has made a setback in the national policy project by his activity such as obstruction of construction etc from his own judgement that the naval base construction is a violation of law. Even though it is not a crime to take an individual interest, [the court] cannot find his will of self-examination even during the repeated process of arrests, imprisonments, and release son him. Therefore, a prison sentence is inevitable.”

However, the article 19 of the Constitution reads: “All the citizens have the freedom of consciousness.”

Also, the ruling by the Constitutional Court of Korea on April 25, 2002 reads:

“The consciousness that the Constitution intends to protect means an urgent and concrete consciousness as a strong and sincere call from the heart that the value of one’s own personal existence will be destroyed if not acting as such, in judging the right and wrong on a task. Even though [a court] can legally punish an “action,” it should not force in any case to change one’s faith with the mobilization of direct or indirect forceful methods. It should not enforce one the idea on the observation of Republic of Korea law or confession on it against one’s own faith, either.”

2. Yang Yoon-Mo started a hunger strike again.

Photo collection by Park Suk-Jin/ “ I hear the scream of the Gureombi Rock, sitting beside the main gate of the construction gate.. I can’t stand myself even though that is what I can do…” Prof. Yang has sat in front of the construction gates many times after his release in 2012. He has always felt the Gureombi Rock like his own body. For more collection of his photos, see here.

More sad news on his decision on prison hunger strike was delivered by a peace activist, Kim Young-Jae on Feb. 2, the next day:

“We just came out from the Jeju Prison where we made a visit to Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo.

Prof. Yang said he would enter fast soon to claim the nullification on the government report on the result of simulation (* Jan. 31) and to revoke the Jeju naval base project. Even though Fr. Mun Jeong-Hyeon and chairman Go Gwon-Il made every sort to stop him, he was so resolute to say he would continue fast (* He made a fast in the evening of the day of his arrest, Feb. 1). He says that he will not go out prison unless he dies.

He says he is no guilty and he cannot acknowledge his imprisonment because it is a compromise.

He and all of us were wet in the edges of the eyelids. He also said he was so sorry to all of us to make us concern about him. We so concern about his health.”

(Kim Young-Jae, Feb. 2 around noon)

Prof. Yang Yoon-No on his 29th fast day in jail on May 4, 2011 when he held more than 74 days’ hunger strike.

3. We are all Yang Yoon-Mo!

Source: Park Yongsung/There will be a press conference on the court decision against him on Feb. 4 and a candle vigil in front of the City hall, Jeju City, at 7 pm on Feb. 5.

By imprisoning him who is like a symbol of the Gureombi Rock and who has brought the fire of the struggle throughout the nation and world, the oligarchies intend to oppress the opposition struggle against the naval base project. They also want to block the Jeju from being the Demilitarized Peace Island but to put it under the corporation monopoly capital like Samsung and military.

If Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo is the Gureombi Rock, we are all Yang Yoon-Mo. The oligarchies lost. We believe in that the fire of the struggle against the naval base project will grow nationwide and globally.

Lindis Percy, a co-representative of the CAAB, UK says:

‘What an inspirational and courageous man – we will light a candle when we gather each Tuesday (now for 13 years) outside the main gates of …NSA Menwith Hill – here in the North of England – we are thinking of him and hold hands in solidarity with him.…’

Photo by Navi/ Yang Yoon-Mo with a vest written of ‘no naval base,’ in the nationwide-traveling candle light vigil in Haenam, Jeolla province, in July, 2012.

In the last part of Dungree’s video, ‘Why Yang Yoon-Mo went to the Prison,’ prof. Yang says on the Gureombi Rock (translated). The video starts with the subtitle that reads, “Yang Yoon-Mo is the Gureombi Rock, Gangjeong.” The title of the background song is ‘a beautiful man.’

“If we can enter the Gureombi Rock again, we can pick and eat mulberry leaves and garlic. If we eat Bangpungcho (a kind of herb) and mugwort there in the new spring, our bodies become strong. Those made me strong. I can do even 100 days’ fast, beyond 70 days’ fast last year. The source of such energy is nothing but the Gureombi. But if the Gureombi is destroyed, I think my summon as a movie critic also ends. The truth is that we should stop the naval base so that the Gureombi becomes a spiritual place for the world. Please give us a chance that the Gureombi can be reevaluated as a cultural treasure. The naval base construction entering into the Island is an illegal construction destroying the spirit of Constitution and legalism.”

Prof. Yang Yoon Mo has not responded five police calls before his imprisonment. He seems to have decided prison life again.

His words on the Gureombi Rock in 2011 can be heard here.

Regis Tremblay who is making a film on the Jeju made a film on Yang as soon as he heard the news on Yang’s arrest on Feb. 1, 2013. You can see it here.

Here is another video by Kim Minsou, a young activist and artist who made the video upon Yang’s arrest on April 6, 2011. Kim met Prof. Yang for the first time in 2009 when Yang was living in the tent of the Gureombi Rock where he was friendly with the villagers, especially with uncle, Kim Jong-Hwan who was also imprisoned for more than three months in 2011. Yang is very gentle and child-like but he is also very resolute in the struggles.

You can see some beauty of the Gureombi Rock and Yang’s life there in the video.
For Kim, Yang is like a teacher and father.

(Post information by Kim Bok-Chul who was released on Jan. 3, 2013 after 206 days in prison)

Below is a copy of a poem that has been put in Yang’s vigil tent in the Joongduk coast, Gangjeong village. The title is “Sisterhood.” It is a poem of love between the Joongduk Sea, the land-filled-planned naval base area, and a man who wants to save the Sea. The writer is a woman who calls the man as her brother-in-law and the sea, as her sister.

Sisterhood

She cries whenever it is a deep night. The Joongduk Sea.

Laying down Gangjeong in her belly who has been scratched and wounded

The Joongduk sea cries lulling and calming down it

Have you ever heard her crying sound

My sister, Joongduk Sea

With tears let inside her

Uh-Ho-Ii Oh-Ho-Ii

A man who has been captured by that tears

Has successfully recognized her being in a serious illness

Crouching his body in a small common bed

Being happy since he is with her

Hei Hei, my innocent brother-in-law

I

Offering a bowl of warm rice to them

Wanted to honor their love

After his arrest on April 6, 2011, the poem was handwritten in a big paper and put on the way of the Gureombi Rock. so that the tourists and even the construction workers could read the poem.

………………………………………………………….

The summary of his imprisonments

Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo, born in Jeju, 1956, a former President of the Korean Association of Film Critics.

2008: Started to live in Gangjeong village after the participation in the Gangjeong villagers’ Island pilgrim for seven nights and eight days.

2009: Started to live in the tent that would be nicknamed as the ‘Joongdeoksa(Jeongdeok temple) on the Gureombi Rock. He stays there until his arrest in 2011.

2010: Imprisonment by the arrest of Dec. 27, 2010 and release of Jan. 9, 2011.

On Dec. 27, 2010, there was a large size bringing-in of materials for the building of residential houses inside the naval base project building complex, which could be said to be the start of the construction in earnest. All the participants who joined the press conference denouncing it were arrested. All were released on the night, except for Yang Yoon-Mo. He had been charged of obstruction of business for the reason to stop the car of the ex-Minister of National Defense, Kim Tae-Young, on March 20, 2010 and damage on navy public information board. The court decision against him, regarding those incidents, had been 1,900,000 won fine but he did not pay. Upon his arrest on Dec. 27, he was imprisoned due to unpaid fines. Even though Yang expressed his will to compensate the fines by prison labor, villagers and some people gathering money for him, made him released on Jan. 9, 2011.

2011: Violently arrested for the reason that he entered under the construction car, with the charge of obstruction of business. Annexed with other charges such as violence in the other incidents, he was imprisoned for 59 days’ until he was released by the court decision of one year six months imprisonment and two year suspension on June 1. At the time, he made more than 74 days’ hunger strike.

2012: Arrested on Jan. 30. Seeing that the police getting order from the construction company thugs, allowed the construction trucks’ entry at the risk of young female activists’ lives, he was infuriated. At the time, he was very weak in health but entered under a construction truck that was illegally making turn at the corner of a bridge, for the expression of protest against illegal construction. He was arrested under the charge of obstruction of business. He made more than 40 days’ hunger strike until his release on March 20 when he got the court decision of 10 months’ imprisonment and two year suspension.

2013: Arrested and jailed directly from the court on the trial of appeal on Feb. 1, as mentioned above. Since the evening of the day, he began hungers strike in protest of the government’s false report on the result of simulation ‘show,’ on Jan. 31 and for the revocation of the Jeju naval base project. He is called as the Gangjeong, Gureombi itself.

Photo and caption by Choi Hye-Young/ On Dec. 27, 2012, with Dr. Song Kang-Ho and young activist, Kim Min-Sou with guitar. Yang’s dream is to build a ‘ farming film school,’ in the Jeju. He was so moved by the movie, ‘Les Miserable,’ and has been reading the book fully translated. He also said he wants to write a critic not with words but with his life for the remaining of his life.
February 3, 2013
Gangjeong Village Story: Monthly News from the Struggle | January 2013 Issue

In this month’s issue:
Struggle outlook after the presidential election and in the new year, a new support group forms, similarities of Gaza and Gangjeong, more prisoner releases, Buddhist unity ceremony, voting problems for villagers and more!

Download PDF

January 19, 2013
Fr. Lee Young-Chan and Mr. Kim Bok-Chul Released from Prison; Mr. Park Seung-Ho only Remaining Prisoner

Following the release of Fr. Lee Young-Chan on Dec. 26, Mr. Kim Bok-Chul was released on Jan. 3. Both were released on bail.

Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ Fr. Lee Young-chan was released on bail on December 26. Activists and Jesuit priests including the head of Jesuits Korea prefecture Fr. John Shin Won-shik (right) are receiving him at Jeju prison. For more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo, See here (Post by Regina Pyon)

Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ Fr. Lee Young Chan in mass, next day of his release.For more photos by Jang Hyun-Woo, see here.

A Video on Fr. Lee Young-Chan, made by Dungree after Fr. Lee’s arrest on Oct. 26, 2012, remembering Fr. Lee’s struggles against the naval base project.

Kim Bok-chol was released on bail on January 3. He is in the center with blue jacket. Photo by Jang Hyon-woo. (Post by Regina Pyon)

Photo by Jang Hyun-Woo/ Mr. Kim Bok-Chul who was arrested on June 14, 2012, is finally free out of jail on Jan. 3, 2013.

For Mr. Kim Bok-Chul, Jan. 3, 2013 was his 206th day in prison. He is the longest prisoner against the Jeju naval base at one term. Dr. Song Kang-Ho was jailed for two weeks in 2011 and 181 days in 2012. Mr. Kim Dong-Won was jailed twice, for about 94 days in 2011 and 118 days in 2012.

On Jan 2, the prosecutor made an opinion of two year prison on him. The court decision will be on Jan. 23.

Video by Dungree: Interview with Mr. Kim Bok-Chul, after his release (Source: click here)

When he was in jail, Mr. Kim Bok-Chul, a laid-off railroad worker and reporter of the ‘Voice of Seoul,’ fought against the bad human rights conditions in the prison. Now being released from the jail, he wants to make an appeal against unjust arrest of him on June 14, 2012 when he was protesting on the police’s violent dealing of an activist

With the release of Fr. Lee Young-Chan and Mr. Kim Bok-Chul, Mr. Park Seung-Ho is currently the only remaining prisoner. He hit his 112 day in jail on Jan. 4, 2013.

Mr. Park Seung-Ho was born in 1966(?). After his arrest in the 3 way intersection in the village on Sept. 14, 2012, for the reason that he had not responded to the police call. It was during the period of the WCC (World Conservation Congress) Jeju (Sept. 6 to 15, 2012) when most people were busy for the protests against the naval base project.

Video still frame by Dungree/ Mr. Park Seung-Ho’s arrest on Sept. 14, 2012

Mr. Park Seung-Ho (No. 290)
Please send him letters of support with the prisoner number to the address at:

Jeju Prison
161 Ora-2 dong, Jeju City,
Jeju, the Peace Island, Korea

………………………………………..

Dr. Song Kang-Ho was released on Sept. 28, 2012 (181 days in jail). See here.

Mr. Yoon Choong was released on Oct. 24, 2012 (44 days in jail). See here.

Mr. Kim Dong-Won was released on Oct. 26, 2012 (118 days in jail). See here.

Rev, Jeong Yeon-Gil and Mr. park Suk-Jin on Dec. 12, 2012 (98 days each). See here.

Fr. Lee Young Chan was released on Dec. 26, 2012 (63 days in jail)

Mr. Kim Bok-Chul was released on Jan. 3, 2013 (206 days in jail)

January 4, 2013
Gangjeong Village Story: Monthly News from the Struggle | Decemeber Issue

In this month’s issue:
A message from Chomsky to Gangjeong, a new civil disobedience movement, prison letters, prisoner releases, construction accidents, art activism and more!

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December 19, 2012