Words by Cho Kyung-Chul, re-elected mayor, facing Nanjing as our future, protest to the entering of the 7th task flotilla, Veterans for Peace solidarity trip to Jeju and Okinawa, Farewell reflections by Tony Flynn and a direct action by Martha Hennessy, Philippine solidarity events for Gangjeong, Miryang commemorates 10 years, deteriorating human rights condition in South Korea, Park Sung-Soo(Dunguri) was released, the saddest day of the year 2015, trial update, Christian message of solidarity and more,
Save Jeju Now
No War Base on the Island of Peace
Tag: Park Sung-Soo
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Gangjeong Village Story: Monthly Newsletter | November 2015 Issue
In this November Edition:A protest on the 1st squadron created on Dec. 1, controversy on the 2nd jeju airport construction project, remembering Yang Yong-Chan, seeing the future of Gangjeong village from Pyeongtaek’s experience, confronting the provincial governor, international solidarity, questions about port entry and completion rate, trial update, military plans to write history text books, a photo exhibition on the Gurembi Rock, condolence to the victims of violence in the world and more.
- For the 3rd page, please refer to the re-edited below.
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Gangjeong Village Story: Monthly Newsletter | June Issue
In this June Edition:Gangjeong and Shannon our common struggle, cruise terminal briefing session, Cross-oceanic solidarity, Farewell sermon, We want no military, international solidarity, WCD members threatened for deportation, What virus is more dangerous to the people than the MERS? And Gangjeong Grand March for Life and Peace etc.
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Update on Yang Yoon-Mo on his 68th prison day and international solidarity messages
Yang Yoon-Mo hit his 68th prison day as of April 8, Monday. On April 10, he would hit his 70th prison day.On a sunny Monday, the way to the meeting room of the Jeju prison was filled with green trees and magnolia.
Yang Yoon-Mo was still in patient cloth. Though still thin, he looked bright. His hairs were cut in tidy fashion. The international team member could not tell him that there clash began in front of the construction sites from the early morning of the day because she worried about his heath that is still in recovering process.
A tree seen on the way to the meeting room of the Jeju Prison Instead she delivered him some international solidarity messages sent to him after the end of his 52 days’ fast as of March 24 and asked his reply to the people who sent those.
For all the international solidarity messages mainly sent on March 31, please see the bottom. Here is his reply:
“Thanks to the international team, the news on me has been informed. It is my honor to be one with the peace activists in the world.
I will not do anything more to bother my body. I think it should be my return for the friendship and support of those.
I will do all my efforts to renew my daily change always. It is the will to be along with all the living creatures, not regarding body merely as an individual matter.
I thank all the friends in the world, especially to Bruce Gagnon, who helped me to realize that.”
The below is his reply on the question of his health, such as dyslexia:
‘ I will eat rice gruel by the end of this month so it will be thankful if people could send me enzyme by the end of this month. I need two bottles of enzyme a week. Since my power of concentration has become very weak, I can hardly read letters yet. I am planning to apply for a meeting with psychologist in the prison.
Currently five people including me are in a same sick room. Since the other people in a room prefer to watch the TV, It is hard for me to mentally concentrate. There is no clash with them but I suffer in my head as I try to overcome my inner conflict.
My only way is to hold mass alone at 11 am, same time with Catholic mass that is held in the village and focus on it. It feels like I have given stress to my physical body for last two months’ fast.
Since relaxation is needed to release stress, I am trying not to push compulsion in my body. I have experienced chill three times since the end of my fast because of lowered immunity. I felt my body was shivering like an aspen. Since my body has become very sensitive even to cold wind, I restrain myself even from outdoor exercise (which is allowed for 15 to 20 minutes a day for every prisoner) I make efforts not to make my body to be excessive.”
Yang was happy to hear the news that the 4·3 movie ‘Jiseul,’ has already attracted more than 70,000 audience throughout the nation, which is quite a remarkable record for an independent movie. He has originally dreamed at least 30,000 audience for the movie. He was also glad to hear that the 4·3 –remembering events were very meaningful this year because of the outcomes of two 4·3 movies(Jiseul and Binyom) and a book named, ‘You, Dear Gangjeong.’ Reports on the 4·3 events will come as soon as possible.
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International Solidarity message to Yang Yoon-Mo and Park Sung-Soo (Dungree)
Here are the International solidarity messages mostly sent and collected on March 31. See the Korean translation, here. The village international team had asked the friends in the world to send the messages to the two people of Yang Yoon-Mo and Mr. Park Sung-Soo (Dungree) before it. Mr. Park Sung-Soo who has refused to pay unjust fines and to be volunteering to be jailed was suddenly released on April 1 as an anonymouse people paid for his fines without his knowledge and will.
Bruce Gagnon, US
Dear Yang Yoon-Mo,
I was happy to learn you ended your courageous hunger strike against the Navy base. It was a good decision to live and fight another day.
Your efforts over the past couple of years have been deeply inside my heart and remain there.
Each day you and others spend in jail is another day I look to do something, anything to help Save Gangjeong village and the nature that surrounds it.
I often watch the video Island of Stone (* movie in 2011, see the below), which always brings tears to my eyes, to hear your profound analysis and sacred love for nature. I send you my best wishes for strong healing and hope your abdominal muscles are now working overtime.
For peace with justice,
ISLAND OF STONE from Island of Stone on Vimeo.
Park Sung-Soo,
I write to thank you so much for your excellent photos and videos which have helped me from so far away stay close to the resistance against the Navy base.
I was sad to hear of your jail sentence but also felt proud of you for refusing to pay the illegal and immoral fines.
Please know that your good efforts for real peace and justice are deeply appreciated by many of us. I send you my best wishes and look forward to your visual art works very soon.
In peace,
Bruce K. Gagnon
Coordinator
Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space
PO Box 652 Brunswick, ME 04011
(207) 443-9502
http://space4peace.blogspot.
com/ (blog) *# Thank God men cannot fly, and lay waste the sky as well as the earth. ~Henry David Thoreau
Lindis Percy and Laila Packer, UK
Dear friends Yang Yoon-Mo and Park Sung-Soo (Dungree)
We are thinking of you so much and send you greetings, solidarity and love.
We hope that the health and strength of Yang Yoon-Mo is recovering and that soon your body will be restored.
Your mind has always been amazingly strong! You are both very brave and courageous and inspiring people.
We hope that the prison authorities are treating you well and with the respect you deserve.
In peace and love
Lindis Percy and Laila Packer
Joint Coordinators
CAMPAIGN FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF AMERICAN BASES – CAAB UK
John Goss
I am so sorry to learn of your imprisonment for taking a stand in protection of Jeju Island. Your efforts to stop the advance of US military occupation is inspirational. I pray for your release.
Agneta Norberg, Swedish Peace Council
I am so sorry to learn of your imprisonment for taking a stand in protection of Jeju Island. Your efforts to stop the advance of US military occupation is inspirational.
I pray for your release. We in Swedish Peace Council,Sweden, want to express our SOLIDARITY and support for Yang Yoon-Mo and Park Sung-Soo in their just and fair struggle against the US marine base in Gangjeong village.
We also want to express our disgust against the jailing of these two honest persons! We condemn SAMSUNGS COOPERATION IN US WARPREPARATIONS in SouthKorea.
We say: Stay firm! We are with you in our thoughts!
Agneta Norberg, Swedish Peace Council
Carole from Luxemburg
Dear Yang Yoon-Mo and Park Sung-Soo,
From far away Luxemburg I am following your plight, courage and fight against injustices!
I have great respect for what you do! With more people with your courage this would be a better and juster world!
I can not do much here in Luxemburg to help, but talk about the fight in Gangjeong to everyone I meet.
You are an inspiration!
Carole from Luxemburg
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Update on the political prisoners as of March 31, 2013
Breaking Update on April 2: Mr. Park Sung-Soo (Dungree) was suddenly released as of April 1. He had strongly refused that people pay fine for him. But without his opinions consulted in advance, some anonymous person(s) paid his fines of 1,400,000 won on behalf of him on April 1 and he was released on the day. It was informed later that the unknown person(s) did it, reading media, from the kind heart to help him. Mr. Park Sung-Soo expressed both of his sorriness and thanks to the person(s). Mr. Park Sung-Soo left for the main land and would stay there for a while as his family member is sick.
Thanks so much to the friends who have sent solidarity messages for him. We would send all your solidarity messages sent to him by now through email to him. From now on, please send support letters only to Yang Yoon-Mo who hits his 62nd prison day as of April 2, 2013.
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See also Bruce Gagnon’s Organizing Notes, March 31, 2013
Yang Yoon-Mo and Park Sung-Soo (Dungree) hit 60th day and 7th day each in the Jeju prison as of March 31, 2013.
Yang Yoon-Mo (No. 301)
161 Jeju Prison Ora-2 dong, Jeju City,
Jeju, the Peace Island, Korea
Photo by Cho Sung-Bong Park Sung-Soo (No. 738)
161 Jeju Prison Ora-2 dong, Jeju City,
Jeju, the Peace Island, Korea
Photo by Lee Wooki You may use internet letter(See the bottom of the link) to send letters to them. But if you concern that your letters would not arrive fast (Mr. Park Sung-Soo will be released around April 21) or are uncomfortable for your personnel information to be exposed to the ROK government, you may send your letters through email to the gangjeongintl@gmail.com.
The Village International team will collect and deliver your email letters to them with the information of your name (or nick name), state, country (no specific address needed).
Thanks.
Free all the political prisoners!
Stop the oppression of tremendous fines!
Stop the construction!
People holding signs in front of the naval base project building complex as of March 28, 2013. ‘Today is Yang Yoon-Mo’s 7th day prison struggle to revoke the Jeju naval base project. His 4th time imprisonment and 5[7]th day in jail,’ ‘Your wage is the price of our fines, tears and lives,’ ‘The naval base in Gangjeong is the US sub-contract base_No War!,’ ‘Dungree hits 4th day in prison struggle laboring instead paying 1,500,000 KRW fines.’ Signs in front of the Jeju naval base project committee building as of March 28, 2013. ‘The coast village people who have made living by fishing and tangerine farming appeal to you with tear that they don’t want to lose the village, that you should not kill all of those warm things. We cannot but ask what is such high horse ‘security’ that destroys a peaceful village community, that kills a sea where endangered species breath, and that is gotten by breaking the beautiful Gureombi Rock that human being cannot even dream only with their hand skills.
_Yang Yoon-Mo’
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A video maker who volunteered to be jailed for fines
See also Regis Tremblay’s writing
Gangjeong Village Video Documentarian Jailed
Photo by Lee Wooki/ Dungree working during the summer, 2012 Dungree (Real name: Park Sung-Soo) has stayed in the Gangjeong village since summer 2011. With his unlimited energy and dedication, he produced the videos of daily struggle in Gangjeong almost everyday. His video ‘Gangjeong Style’ made a mega hit. Not only that, he is the one who has diligently collected and listed all the daily human rights violation incidents in the field. Thanks to him, enormous examples of judicature oppression have been known to the world.
Moreover, thanks to his dedication, people nationwide and overseas could be vividly informed about the struggle and suffering of Gangjeong.
Today, on March 25, we got the surprising news from his writing that he is resolute to go to jail not only because he can’t afford fines but he is sorry to young female activists who not only suffer from daily long-time protests in front of gates but also from tremendous fines for their protests.
As of Feb. 2013, average fines against each activist are about $3,000 to $4,000 USD. Some of them are fined of $ 8,000 to $9,000 USD each. The fines against activists have become soared especially after the Presidential election on Dec. 19, 2012. It is a new strategic method of the government to oppress the movement against the Jeju naval base project. See more detail, here.
Dungree has been accused for trespass in 2012 when he entered alone the naval base project committee building complex to protest that the navy had confined, threatened, and harassed two young woman reporters with condemning sexual remarks. The two reporters appealed on the incident later to the Korean human rights committee (though eventually dismissed by the puppet committee)
You can watch the video at the time here. Dungree himself narrates with humor what happened to him on the day, including the reminders of the past crimes of the same navy personnel who have committed human rights violation on two reporters. One of those was lieutenant commander Chung who has openly put a banner of naming protesters as ‘the pro-North Korea left,’ in the village.
Recently Dungree’s appeal to the Supreme Court was dismissed and he has to pay 1,400,000 KRW (which is about $ 1,300 USD).
He was told to be volunteering to appear in the Jeju Prosecutor’s office and was eventually jailed as of 5~6 pm, today, March 25. Currently the Korean law, counts a day for 50,000 KRW(which is about $ 50 USD). It means he has to be imprisoned for 28 days.
Dungree was very resolute to say he does neither want people pay for his fines nor he was visited but receiving letters. He is willing to bear the sufferings that he would encounter in the prison for a month.
He became the first victim of the government’s new strategy to oppress people with the judicature fines. Before him, Prof. Yang Yoon-Mo had been jailed for 10 days because of his protest in 2010 (See the bottom of here) At the time the fines against him was 2,000,000 won and people released him by gathering remaining fines for him despite Yang’s own resolution to be jailed for full period.
The matter is that it would be not only Dungree but that many activists are now at the risk of being jailed because they cannot afford fines. As the judicature oppression will grow, more and more activists will suffer from those burdens of fines.
Image source: Choi Hye-Young/ Dungree during the Island Peace Pilgrim, Summer, 2012 Today March 25, the Jeju media says that the Ministry of Strategic Planning allocated the budget for the naval base project. As the 70 days’ period ended on March 11 and the Island governor jointly signed with the central government on the civilian-military joint usage protocol on March 14, the acceleration of construction speed has been expected.
Tomorrow, March 26, the villagers will fight again to dissipate the navy’s presentation on military residential housing project. The villagers had an emergency general meeting on March 24. The Gangjeong Village Association concerned about saying that “Even though the naval base construction has not been completed, the navy is again raging wind with the matter of the military residence house in the Gangjeong village. The naval base would bring lots of conflicts such as radar base, helipad, powder magazine, training facilities, military airport, and more and more military residential house projects..”
Photo by Dungree on March 24, Sunday/One of his photos that he took on Sunday, March 24, just before the day of his imprisonment. See more of his photos , here. Reverends, Kim Hong-Soul and Kim Hee-Young will take solidarity fasts with Yang Yoon-Mo from March 26 to 29. The peace activists will take daily one man protest in front of the Jeju Prosecutors’ Office to denounce the judicature oppression upon the jailing of Dungree.
As Dungree appealed to people in his writing, please become a member of the Gangjeong Friends that gathers members from the domestic and international to support the fines for activists, campaign for Life and Peace Gangjeong Village and movement for Demilitarizing Jeju, the Peace Island.
You may contact gangjeongintl@gmail.com.
Photo by Song Dong-Hyo/ Dunguree Park Seong-su on August 24, 2011 when mayor Kang of Gangjeong village was arrested. . . Memorable day that lots of Gangjeong villagers protested to block the arrest of mayor Kang. . .Overnight protest has continued in front of Seogwipo police station (Caption by Regina Pyon) 
Photo by Abigail Yu/ Dungree working in the field when mayor Kang was arrested in Aug. 24, 2011.
