After the vigil at the plaza on Saturday evening, some of the protestors against U.S. beef imports occupied the eight-lane street between the Gwanghwamun Post Office and the Kyobo building until 4:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Police forcibly dispersed about 250 demonstrators who resisted until the last moment, and arrested 37 of them. This was the first time since protests began on May 2 against reopening of the Korean market to U.S. beef that participants have occupied a street illegally and clashed with police.

Protestors occupy a street near the Gwanghwamun Post Office in Seoul on Sunday morning.

Police estimated that about 7,000 people participated in the evening’s vigil, which was also joined by stalwarts of such events from the Korean Teachers and Education Workers' Union and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, who had rallied separately in Youeido. Slogans opposed a whole bundle of issues, from U.S. beef imports to privatization, autonomy for secondary education, and the cross-country canal project.

According to police, protestors who stood behind the plaza around 9:30 p.m., when the vigil was coming to an end, shouted, "Let's go to Cheong Wa Dae!" Some 3,000 or about half of the participants slipped out of the plaza and occupied a 100-m section of the street.

Police warned protestors the action was illegal and urged them to disperse. But some 300 demonstrators occupied the street until the small hours, shouting, "Down with the dictatorship!" and, "Guarantee peaceful demonstrations!"

Police faced off with protestors until 4:30 a.m. on Sunday. After they were dispersed, the 300 went back to the plaza and continued to demonstrate.

A prosecutor said a government meeting “reaffirmed a policy to deal firmly with illegal rallies, including occupation of streets and use of violence.” But he added the government will guarantee peaceful candlelight vigils within legal boundaries.

(englishnews@chosun.com )