South Korean presidential candidate faces protest during cemetery visit, hit by placard

ISTANBUL

Former South Korean Prime Minister and current presidential candidate Han Duck-soo, was met with resistance Friday by protesters and was hit by a placard when he tried to visit a cemetery as part of his election campaign, reported Seoul-based Yonhap News.

Han was visiting the May 18th National Cemetery in Gwangju in the south where victims of a 1980 pro-democracy uprising are buried. He made the visit hours after announcing his candidacy.

He was met with opposition from demonstrators who opposed his presence and was hit on his head by a placard when he tried to enter the cemetery.

Han's bodyguards intervened and the former premier was reportedly not injured.

He left the cemetery 20 minutes after he entered.

"I am also from Honam," said Han referring to Gwangju.

"We should love each other. We should not hate each other. People from Honam live with the pain of the May 18 uprising," he said before leaving the cemetery.

Han resigned as acting president Thursday to be eligible for the presidential candidacy.

The 1980 pro-democracy uprising was a massive revolt against the military dictatorship of President Chun Doo-hwan in the southern city of Gwangju between May 18 and May 27.