Thousands of demonstrators converged on downtown Seoul, South Korea Sunday for the first of a promised series of protests against this week's G20 leaders' summit. VOA Correspondent Steve Herman was on the scene and took these pictures.
Anti-G20 Demonstrations Begin in Seoul
Authorities say they have prevented hundreds of foreigners from entering South Korea who have a history of protesting at leaders' summits.
Police line an avenue in downtown Seoul to block protesters.
As night fell, police thwarted demonstrators from reaching a rallying point for a candelight vigil.
A squad of riot police in front of the Korea Press Center in downtown Seoul.
The labor rally took place in Seoul City Plaza near city hall.
Sunday's rally also marked the 40th anniversary of the death of tailor Chun Tae Il, whose act of burning himself to death in marked the start of modern trade union activism in S. Korea.
A speaker appears before activists in Seoul City Plaza Sunday kicking off days of demonstrations leading to the G20 Summit.
Performers on a stage at the anti-globalization rally with a large sign in background promoting G20 summit.
A coalition of various interest groups plan to hold numerous demonstrations in Seoul this week.
Anti-G20 Demonstrations Begin in Seoul
A riot police squad standing by in downtown Seoul.
Participants at Seoul rally Sunday opposed to US-S. Korea free trade pact and G20 summit.
Police say 20,000 people were at Sunday's rally. Organizers claim double that number.
Seoul hosts the G20 leaders' summit Nov. 11-12.