New South Korean president Lee Myung-bak (nicknamed “The Bulldozer” and “MB”) has been having a tough time lately, with a low approval rating and mass protests. The NYT summary of the protests over importing U.S. beef is a good one; I think it captures some of the background on why this issue has become such a emotional one. I also like blogger Matt's coverage of protests in Seoul and other cities, including photographs of the building mob. He links to an interesting piece by blogger kotaji on the use of barricades, who notes that “over the last decade or so the barricades have been reversed and police forces around the world have become experts in stacking shipping containers to protect places of power and privilege in the same way that the Parisian working class became experts in a similar art during the course of the 19th century.” Last but not least, blogger Matt also gives a great historical overview of the protest places used for protest in Seoul.