A series of different protests as well as a mass strike organized by labor groups rocked South Korea on December 28, 2013.

From noon till late at night, about 100,000 citizens and labor workers angrily demonstrated against the current government's election manipulation scandal and clampdowns on labor groups as well as moves toward privatization of the nation's railway system, though the administration denies such claims. Some observers are calling the outbreak of demonstrations proof that public anger has nearly “reached its boiling point” [ko].

Although it failed to reach its goal of one million participants, more than 100,000 [ko] were reported to be present till late afternoon. Although police estimate the total number barely reached 20,000, some disputed the number by pointing out that 13,000 riot police were mobilized for the event.

One image making the rounds online purportedly of the strike turned out to actually be from 2010. Nevertheless, plenty of dramatic photos showing the scale of the main protest in Seoul Plaza circulated the web:

차벽에 막혀 광장 진입을 못하고, 광장 밖 도로까지 꽉찬 민주시민들의 모습 입니다. via @mediamongu pic.twitter.com/MoVpmcbD73 — 내일은해가뜬다!(시국선언) #바꾸세 (@me_eric) December 28, 2013

These citizens were not able to enter the plaza as a wall of police bus blocked their way. So instead, the plaza's surrounding roads were fully packed with these people.

잘 안 보이시겠지만 철도민영화 반대 위해 모인 서울광장 안 전체 인파를 사진 3장으로 연결해 보여 드리겠습니다. 전체 참가 인원의 30%가 빠진 상태임을 감안 하고 봐주시길 바랍니다 pic.twitter.com/l2GKDMShe6 — 미디어몽구 (@mediamongu) December 28, 2013

It is hard to guess the real scale of the protest against railway privatization by merely looking at photos. But I will post these three photos, which show protesters who are “in” the Plaza. Please take into account that these are only 70 percent of the total participants.

Seoul Plaza is already fully packed.

This is a photo of the No. 6 exit of the City Hall subway station [which leads to the Seoul Plaza]

Though labor unions overwhelmingly counted the largest participation, various non-labor groups also hosted minor protests today, including students, lawyers, media workers [ko] and a particularly unique group, the newly launched KOCA (Korean Online Communities Alliance) [ko], an association of the nation's major online community sites.

“We are Not Fine” movement-themed protest (from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.)

In Seoul, Daejeon, Changwon and Pusan, young protesters, especially students, took turns standing on stage and spelling out “the reasons why they can't be okay” [ko] from 12 p.m. to roughly around 3 p.m.

개포고 대자보 붙였다고 징계한답니다. 여고생 “우리도 할말해야 안녕할 수 있다.” pic.twitter.com/N4xudilUv2 — 류승완 (@PhD_RYU) December 28, 2013

A high school girl said some students of Gaepo High School may get reprimanded for posting hand-written posters. She said “we will be feeling ‘fine’ only after expressing our thoughts”.

Flash mobs (at 3 p.m.)

Flash mobs of citizens singing the revolutionary anthem “Do you hear the people sing?” from the musical “Les Misérables” were held in Seoul, Pusan, Gwangju, Daejeon and Daegu. Here is a video of a flash mob which took place near the Yonsei University in Seoul:

Civil rights lawyers’ protest (from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.)

Civil rights lawyers held a protest at 2 p.m. at Bosingak Bell Pavilion, and around 3 p.m. they marched towards the Seoul Plaza.

‘법정에서 거리로!!’ ‘정의를 이기는 불의는 없다’ 변호사들마저 민주주의를 외치기 위해 보신각에 모여들고 있습니다. 민주주의 추락과 상식의 요구가 여기까지 왔습니다 pic.twitter.com/GJ43cqpHcg — 미디어몽구 (@mediamongu) December 28, 2013

Under the slogan of “From the courtroom to the streets” and “There is no injustice that wins the justice”, these lawyers are gathering at Bosingak to call for democracy. This shows how far our democracy and common sense have fallen.

Mass strike by labor groups (from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.)

Before joined by other groups, labor unions held a fierce demonstration at Seoul Plaza against the government's decision to crack down on fired railway workers and labor leaders.

이시간 시청광장엔 한국노총에서도 연대를 위해 많은조직에서 참여 했군요 박수를 보냅니다 ‘민주노총 총파업으로 국민철도 지켜내자’ pic.twitter.com/pTMj4PfV5s — 홍반장 (@woodstock1000) December 28, 2013

I give them a round of applause for their strong alliance – many groups, even KLUC [Korea Labor Union Congress] have joined, calling out “We will protect our railway system by having a general strike by Korean Confederation of Trade Unions.”

(14:57) 영풍문고앞에서 서울 광장을 향하는 건설 노조.. 끝이 안보입니다.. pic.twitter.com/mx7jr2ZsbT — 주먹이운다 (@jumeok_) December 28, 2013

(as of 2:57 p.m.) The Construction Labor Union is marching to Seoul Plaza from Youngpung Bookstore. I can't see where their line ends.

Main rally

A main demonstration was scheduled to take place around 4 p.m., but Seoul Plaza was already packed with protesters from around 2 p.m.

The photo on the left shows Seoul City Hall Plaza at 1:30 p.m. and the right is taken at 2:55 p.m. Now there is no room for extra feet.

The protest continued into the night.