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At least since the Yongsan Massacre, committed nine days ago by SWAT/anti-terror units, the National Federation Against House Demolition (aka "National Alliance of Squatters and Evictees", 전철연/JCY)..

..became a major target for the state persecution/police and inflammatory articles in the S.K. bourgeois media (*).

Since many years (mainly) poor residents/tenants are suffering from so-called redevelopment projects in the urban areas in S. Korea (Seoul, Gyeonggi-do, Daegu, Busan etc). While they developed their residential quarters since the late 1960's, hundred thousands of them were/are displaced/evicted, very often by force, to make way for the new the "redevelopment projects", starting with the preparations for the 1988 Olympic Games in S. Korea.

But because the S.K. public, incl. the "progressive" movement (except some student solidarity groups and radical left activists) , paid almost no attention for the situation of the displaced/evicted people, some activists founded about 15 years ago the Federation Against House Demolition (JCY) with the aim to organize a mass struggle against the "capitalist redevelopment".

At least since the struggle in Ilsan/Pung-dong JCY got a lot of attention in the S.K. progressive movement, partly in the S.K. bourgeois media and even internationally..

And (in my opinion) very important: JCY is also supporting the struggle and resistance of other oppressed and exploited in S.K., such as un-documented migrant workers (**).

The Hankyoreh published last week following article about JCY:

Residents in redevelopment zones get

help from demolition federation

With few civic groups focusing on urban development, area residents left to face intimidation from redevelopment unions on their own

With comments emerging that violent incidents are taking place between redevelopment unions and demolition protesters following the intervention of the Federation Against House Demolition (Jun Chul Yun/Jeoncheolyeon), public attention has turned to the work the two groups have done to combat redevelopment in districts throughout Seoul.

Tenants in Seoul’s Yongsan 4th Zone, where the demolition protest tragedy took place, explained that they have no one else to depend on but Jun Chul Yun, as the demolition date approaches and the district office and police are not blocking contracted personnel hired to secure the area.

“Since residents don’t know even basic information about demolition or compensation, it’s been a lot of help to have Jun Chul Yun come in and provide information about demolition and methods of response,” said Kim Jeong-gi, 37, an area tenant. But there are differences of opinion even among residents about the federation’s method of struggle, Kim added.

Another tenant, who declined to be named, said, “Even if demolition thugs are roaming around the neighborhood, the district office, City Hall and police don’t even help.” The tenant added, “At times like that, a group like Jun Chul Yun becomes a place to depend on for residents.”

Jun Chul Yun Secretary-General Seong Nak-gyeong said, “With demolition looming ahead, the neighborhood’s residents at first responded in a dispirited way with the reality they alone were faced with, but now, through Jun Chul Yun, they are learning about the need for a combined response.”

Nam Gi-mun, vice chair of the Democratic Labor Party’s Yongsan committee, said, “The reality is that there are almost no political parties or civic groups responding actively to the issue of urban development, and even that is with the Democratic Labor Party starting its on-site activity in 2006.” Nam also commented, “From the standpoint of the residents awaiting demolition, they find a group to help them when they’re grasping at straws.”

After the Yongsan District Office obtained a permit to carry out the project in June 2007, Jun Chul Yun came into the region in December of that year and held a briefing for residents, selecting leaders from among them.

Jun Chul Yun was established in June 1994, and represents demolition protest groups in Seoul, Busan, Ulsan, Gyeonggi Province and other regions around the nation.

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/335005.html

* Check out following:

☞ Protest leader arrested in Yongsan case

☞ Stopping squatter violence

☞ Gov’t Seeks Bill to Stop Violence in Redevelopment Project Disputes

** Just one example from last year:

☞ [8.17] MTU demo..