The Hankyoreh | 3 April 2007
FTA protestor who immolated himself in serious condition
54-year-old taxi driver hospitalized with burns over 63 percent of body
A 54-year-old South Korean taxi driver, who [set himself on fire->7721] on April 1 in protest of the Korean government's moves to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with the U.S., still remains in serious condition, hospital officials said.
"Heo Se-ok was burned over 63 percent of his body, and is still in serious condition," said officials at a Seoul hospital.
Heo immolated himself on April 1 in front of a hotel where negotiators from Seoul and Washington were engaged in last-ditch efforts to finalize the trade talks. The deal was clinched around 1 p.m. the next day.
Heo seemed to be recovering slightly as he reportedly responded to remarks by Moon Sung-hyun, chairman of the Democratic Labor Party, who visited Heo in the hospital and told him, "Please survive and fight with us till the end." Moon, himself, has been [protesting the FTA by staging a hunger strike->7585].
The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, one of the nation's largest labor umbrella organizations, issued a statement holding the government responsible for Heo's taking of extreme measures to protest the situation.
