Sewol Anniversary

Passing by Gwanghwamun on the way home, I heard music in the distance and decided to look around.

As I arrived there was a traditional Korean percussion band joined by a guitarist and a singer who seemed to have more of a heavy metal background.

Here's the singer leaving the stage.

The American embassy sits nearby behind a row of riot police buses.

The flags were a who's-who of activist organisations, many connected to the Sewol but not all.

The next act was a solo guitarist.

There was a less crowded space between the stage and the regular protest area.

Right up at the southern end of the plaza.

Some of the students lost in the disaster.

This kid strikes a dramatic pose.

A little later, this street would be blocked to traffic.

I headed to the roof of the Modern History Museum for a better view.

Of the protest.

And the mobilising cops.

The palace was unaffected.

Not too sure what these flags were about. My first instinct was it's another right-wing counter protest, laying out flags to prevent people from occupying this space, but they're celebrating 70 years of independence from Japan, which is not much of a right-wing cause.

This park was crawling with cops.

A closer look at the flags.

The cops were getting ready to block off access to Gwanghwamun.

People were still frolicking here as usual.

Back at the protest.

Journalists were allowed on stage to shoot the crowd so I tagged along to get this picture.

I think these two women were performers.

I ran into Jason Strother on the clock.

The steps of Sejong Arts Center were packed too.