Mon Aug 15, 2016 20:48:22
Residents of South Korea’s Seonju County shaved their heads on Monday to protest their government's plan to deploy a U.S. missile defense system in their region.
The act came as both South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) marked the 71st anniversary of the Korean Peninsula's liberation from Japanese colonial rule.
Despite a temperature of nearly 40 degrees Celsius, several thousand residents gathered in a local park and 815 among them chose to have their heads shaved to show their resolution against the deployment of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.
"Even the hot weather will not stop me from cutting my hair. As a woman, I am not ashamed to be bald. Because we must win the battle," said a protester.
"The deployment location is only hundreds of meters away from where I live. I strongly oppose it," said another protester.
Another protester stressed that everyone must remain united in order to force the government to reverse its decision.
"We need to stick together. Although it is very hot, we've still come here to join the protest and cut our hair. We must work together to demand the government withdraw their decision," he said.
Protests in the small mountainous county have not stopped since the government's decision to deploy the THAAD system.
South Korea's defense ministry announced on July 13 its agreement with the United States to deploy one THAAD battery to the Seongju County, some 300 km southeast of Seoul, by the end of next year.
The government is expected to face more pressure from the public as the deadline draws near.
S/SH 11
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