A huge number of buses lined the central street that leads up to Kwanghwamun gate (which is no longer there, since it has been deemed a worthwhile expenditure to tear down and move the gate a few meters away from its current “incorrect” position). I have never seen so many of the ubiquitous police buses (there are usually a few dozen every weekend but today I lost count), almost all of which had their engines running, filling the air full of noxious exhaust. Hundreds of idle police officers wandered about. They were ready for protesters.
The protest they probably were not very worried about was the hundred or so elementary school children, comfort women, and other supporters who were protesting near the Japanese embassy this afternoon. The children danced in circles holding hands with a few exhausted looking former comfort women while performers sang some beautiful traditional sounding songs and led the children in chants demanding that the Japanese government give justice to the comfort women. A significant percentage of the participants were journalists snapping pictures and filming clips from angles which concealed the small turnout.
It was a jolly affair and one of the songs sung was beautifully performed. However, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the former comfort women who were dragged around by children and adults alike like participants of some kind of public spectacle.
I’m sure well they will sleep soundly after a tiring day with the crowds. I’m sure the representatives of the Japanese government will sleep equally soundly, protected from protesters by a few blocking police buses placed near their back-street embassy location.
