Others threw bags of fruit, vegetables and soil in plastic bags at riot police. They also lit two bonfires in the street and smashed watermelons and other produce to symbolize how little their products are now worth. Many wore yellow conical hats that are traditionally used for funerals. Under a 1994 global trade agreement, South Korea ended its decades-old ban on rice imports and agreed to increase rice imports to 4 percent by 2004. Rice, the staple food of Koreans, is the main source of income for 6 million Korean farmers.
Korean rice is several times more expensive than the international average.
An opposition leader under former authoritarian governments, President Kim won credit for steering his country through the regional currency crisis at the beginning of his five-year term. However, many people say they still struggle to make a living. Copyright 2000 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.