Prosecutors said Thursday they have indicted a South Korean man on charges of burning the national flag during a rally commemorating the first anniversary of the deadly ferry disaster.
The 23-year-old, only identified by his surname Kim, is accused of burning the flag during the April 18 rally in downtown Seoul and damaging a police vehicle, the Seoul Central Prosecutors' Office said.
"I was in a rage after witnessing the government authorities illegally taking the bereaved families to police stations instead of focusing on the investigation into the cause of the accident," he told the prosecutors.
In South Korea, flag burning is an offense that is punishable by up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 7 million won ($6,100).
Kim is also accused of causing 6.9 million won ($6,000) in damage to a police vehicle along with other protesters and obstructing traffic in central Seoul.
Thousands of demonstrators staged rallies at Seoul Plaza in front of Seoul City Hall in April and May to mark the anniversary of the sinking of the Sewol ferry that claimed 304 lives.
Police clashed with demonstrators as they tried to march toward Cheong Wa Dae. More than 13,000 police were mobilized to block the road to the presidential office, and hundreds of trucks and other vehicles were used to seal off nearby roads. (Yonhap)
