We got off at the normal stop and things looked ok. Then we got closer to school (which was right in the middle of the procession route) and it started to look a little crowded.
Everyone was watching the big screens and when the current president came on, people started shouting. They were shouting 'son of a bitch' at him.
Then we dropped off our bags at school and headed back out. The road was already filling up and the procession wasn't due for another 45 minutes or so.
We wandered up and down for a bit and then around 1:10, the procession reached us. The yellow is in reference to his party.
They were trying to move the crowd back to let it through:
Then, it arrived. The music made it really surreal and people were throwing yellow paper planes at the hearse. Note the amount of mobile phone photo takers too.
When we left school, the were 22.000 riot police and some massive water cannons. But, thankfully, no trouble. Hopefully, things will stay peaceful tonight.
Then they all stood up and we decided it was time to go.
Facing them, the crowds of people were sitting or standing quietly with candles.
Down by Deoksugung it was still crowded.
It was quite a surreal experience, being part of the crowd, with people crying and others shouting, with a moving soundtrack over everything. I'm glad I work in the heart of the city, where I'm able to see things like this. It was a very strange day though and, in true Korean style, it ended with norae-bang at 5 am.
Thanks for bringing Korea to vivid (and now moving, speaking!) life.
ReplyDeleteI think after all this blows over, you should treat us, your loyal viewers, to a 'Hannah, Simon and friends go out and get whammed in a karaoke bar' video.
That would be cool.
I'll think about it! Some of the photos are best viewed larger (just click on them and they open in a new thing, all big), as you can see the screens everyone is watching, etc.
ReplyDelete