It was because of the G20 Summit Conferences that is going to take place here in Seoul on Nov. 11-12, 2010.
On Sunday, there were massive groups of police and what not in full uniform with protective gear at the City Hall area. There were tons of people there too...some to tour around the area since the area is full of tourist attractions, like the huge Palace, the Josung statue, and the stream I talked about earlier in the summer. There was also a Lantern Festival going on as well...dedicated to the G20 Summit. Anyway, there were tons of people besides tourists; those I want to point out are protesters and policemen. THERE WERE TONS OF THEM!
Protesters were protesting about the G20 Summit, as well as other things that was affecting the country's people. Because the "world" has there attention on the G20 Summit, the Korean protesters feel like this is the best time for them to be heard (get attention from international people and have them see what is happening because if there were no Summit...then they would not be heard).
Personally, I feel that Korea is making a big deal about the G20 Summit here (and promoting it everywhere here and saying how great it is to host it) because in other places in the world, like America, most people don't even know what the G20 Summit is about...
Anyway, here are some pics of what I did on Sunday and what I saw.
...the people around the City Hall area...
and in the background, you can see a promotion of the G20 Summit...
...the police bus...and policemen....and maybe X50 of that was what I saw....more than 50 police buses and thousands of policemen...
...another sign for the G20 Summit.
...the lanterns promoting the G20 Summit.
...The Lantern Festival promotion its country as well as the G20 Summit.
...A lantern representing Japan.
Stage for the G20 Summit (promotion)...you can see the figures standing on the stage together...
the LED screen advertises the G20 Summit...
...A troop of policemen near the Se-jeong statue.
...they weren't doing anything...
....the statue itself :]
...inside the "museum" of Se-jeong...it told the life of the King and how he created Hangul (the writing system used by Korea and Koreans until this day)....this was during the Jo-sung Dynasty.
The gate of a LARGE Palace (I will give you the name once I remember)...but it is in front of a busy area around the City Hall area and lots of people usually go here if they want to sight-see a palace since it's really popular and so big.
