Park Geun-gil, aka “Mangi”. Photo by Eunmi Pang
On June 4, Korean peace activist Park Geun-gil entered the Jeju Prison to serve time instead of paying a fine of 4.6 million KRW (around US$4,000). At the rate of 100,000 KRW/day, he will serve 46 days and should be released by July 20. [Update: He was released from jail on June 14 after an anonymous person paid his fines.] Park, who is known as Mangi, joined a demonstration in December, 2015, protesting police brutality the day before in the arrest of a human chain blocking construction of military housing for the long-resisted navy base at Gangjeong village. Mangi was convicted of obstructing justice and injuring a policeman, although it was Mangi’s finger that was fractured by twisting as he was arrested. His conviction was upheld in July, 2017. To read more about the Peace Island of Jeju and the struggle against the new naval base there, visit savejejunow.org.