Large protest turns violent

Demonstrators unhappy with govt labor policies and planned use of state-issued history books

Police detained more than 50 protesters and were seeking others on Sunday after violent clashes marred the anti-government demonstrations in South Korea's capital in more than seven years.

Police fired tear gas and water cannons on Saturday to disperse about 70,000 people allied with labor, civic and farmers' groups, who took to the streets to rally against conservative President Park Geun-hye. The activists oppose Park's business-friendly labor policies and a decision to require middle and high schools to use only state-issued history textbooks starting in 2017.