December 5, 2015 - 16:55 AMT
Tens of thousands hit the streets in S. Korea anti-govt. rally

Tens of thousands of protesters in South Korea are holding a mass rally against a raft of government policies that they say weaken democracy, according to BBC News.

About 18,000 police have been deployed in the capital, Seoul.

A protest last month ended in a riot, and water cannon being used to prevent marchers from getting to the presidential palace.

Protesters oppose plans including changes to labour laws and greater controls over history textbooks.

Left-wing critics say this will lead to a whitewashing of past South Korean dictatorships.

Park Geun-hye, the country's first female president, was elected two years ago. She is also pushing through controversial moves to make labour markets more flexible by giving employers more leeway in dismissing workers.

About 60,000 people took part in the first rally, with saw violent clashes between protesters and police.

Photo: Reuters