An estimated 100,000 protestors gathered in central Seoul Monday to rally against calls for the abolition of South Korea's National Security Law. President Roh Moo-hyun, a former human rights lawyer, has called for the abolition of the law, which bans praise for, or open sympathy with, anti-state groups (an offense which carries a penalty of up to seven years imprisonment) and provides for jail time for failing to notify authorities about other anti-state crimes.

Conservatives say the law is vital to the country's security in light of North Korea's suspected efforts to develop nuclear weapons. As previously reported on JURIST's Paper Chase, South Korea's Constitutional Court upheld the controversial law in August. AP has more. The Korea Times has local coverage.