On Wednesday, Aug. 17, The Jeju Weekly’s Darryl Coote and intern Baek Hee Youn made their way to Gangjeong village on south coast of the island. This part of Seogwipo City is the construction site for a future South Korean naval base. Over the next few days The Weekly will travel to the village to gauge the conflicts and ideological struggles between the Navy, the nation, and locals and protesters from the mainland and overseas, that have gripped the area and its people for months, if not years. We will tell their stories -- in images. Please check back regularly online to see the updated version of this on-going story. If you are new to this issue, please go to http://www.jejuweekly.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=1769 to read Nicole Erwin and Alpha Newberry’s earlier Gangjeong report for The Weekly. -- Ed.

[Update: Friday evening, Aug. 19. Candlelight vigil at protester camp]

▲ Ko Kwon Il speaks before a crowd of roughly 100 people during a candlelight vigil out front of the main entrance to the South Korea naval base construction site in Gangjeong village, Seogwipo City. Photo by Darryl Coote

▲ Anti-naval base protesters hold a candlelight vigil almost every night (though not always out from the naval base construction entrance) to help raise moral and encouragement for their cause. Photo by Darry Coote

▲ An anti-naval base protester looks off into the distance during a speech by Ko Kwon Il. Photo by Darryl Coote

▲ During the vigil protesters perform a choreographed dance out front of the main entrance to the South Korea naval base construction site, as part of their candlelight vigil. All photos by Darryl Coote

▲ In single file lines protesters massage one another while listening to the story of two travelers who came here on holiday decided to stay to support the anti-naval base cause. Photo by Darryl Coote

▲ Anti-naval base protesters spill onto Gangjeong bridge as an artist’s rendering of the future naval base hangs over head. Photo by Darryl Coote

[Update: Thursday evening, Aug. 18. Gangjeong naval base protester camp]

▲ A view of the anti-naval base camp taken Thursday night. Photo by Darryl Coote

▲ Politician Oh Ok Man, center, stands with protesters in a rallying cry urging everyone to continue their struggle to prevent the construction of a naval base on Jeju Island. Photo by Darryl Coote

▲ Protesters participate in a nightly rallying cry. Photo by Darryl Coote

▲ Recently released after spending three months in jail for her participation in the Gangjeong naval base protests, peace activist Choi Sung Hee addresses people at the camp on Thursday evening. Photo by Darryl Coote

▲ Peace activist Choi Sung Hee, right, holds up a T-shirt with a protest message on it (Gureombi means the "living rock" of the shoreline). With her is her mother. Photo by Darryl Coote

[Aug. 17. Gangjeong village]

▲ Approximately 100 police officers run along the main street of Gangjeong into the entrance of the naval base construction site at the south end of the village. Photo by Darryl Coote

▲ The main entrance to the naval base construction site. Only those given permission by the Republic of Korea Navy are permitted to enter. Photo by Darryl Coote

▲ A billboard out front of the naval base construction site entrance displaying an artist’s rendering of what the completed base will look like. Photo by Darryl Coote

▲ One of many protest signs along the main street of Gangjeong village. Throughout the entire village, on back streets and even painted on the road, protest signs and anti-naval base messages in Korean and English can be seen everywhere. Photo by Darryl Coote

▲ The naval base construction site seen over the large wall erected to prevent people from entering the site. Photo by Darryl Coote

▲ Anti-naval base protesters graffiti the wall erected around the naval base construction site. When asked what they hope to achieve through spray painting the wall, one of them said that it was to “poke” and anger the navy. Photo by Darryl Coote

▲ Towards the protesters’ camp in Jungdeok, the wall erected around the naval base construction site becomes increasingly covered with graffiti. This road is also a part of Olle course No. 7, and along with protesters, hikers are often seen walking the road. Photo by Darryl Coote

▲ Photo by Darryl Coote

▲ Politician Oh Ok Man, right, with another protester have chained themselves to the road that leads to Jungdeok. Behind them, the street is filled with the protesters’ tents. Photo by Darryl Coote

▲ Further away from the naval base construction site and the protesters’ camp in Jungdeok, the village streets are quite except for the occasional senior citizen, Olle hiker, or regular person going about their daily business. Photo by Darryl Coote

▲ As the day turned to evening, the weather began to change and threatened to rain. The wind picked up and began to sway the street signs along the road to Gangjeong. Photo by Darryl Coote

▲ Along a back road by farms that leads the way from the protesters camp and out of the village, protest signs and dream catchers made from hula hoops line the path. The message painted on the electrical pole reads “American Naval Base, No!” Photo by Darryl Coote

▲ Protesters have staked they claim and made camp on the road the leads to Jungdeok, the intended location of the naval base. This road is currently one of controversy with protesters stating that any day now they will be forced to leave. Photo by Darryl Coote