S. Korean fears over "war monger" Bush

Protests against Bush have been staged daily as Koreans voice their fears of escalated tensions with the North

SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- South Koreans are not only concerned that the war on terrorism may be coming to the Korean peninsula, they fear the impact any financial assistance to the North will have on their economy.

Days before U.S. President George W. Bush was due to arrive in Seoul, protestors had branded him a "war monger", and the "axis of evil". A group of students stormed the American Chamber of Commerce building in Seoul, occupying and vandalizing the facilities.

Jun Sang Bong, head of one of the anti-Bush student protest groups was harshly critical of the U.S. leader. His group followed Bush's visit with protest attempts at each presidential pit stop.

"Bush's policy is very rash and his words imply he is willing to start a war and kill scores of people."

VIDEO President Bush's stance toward North Korea has many South Koreans concerned. CNN's Sohn Jie-Ae reports. Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's John King travels with President Bush as he visits Japan, South Korea and China. Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)   MORE STORIES • Bush peers into 'evil North Korea  • Analysis: Korea: A chilly diplomatic climate  • Presidential visits to Korean DMZ a ritual    EXTRA INFORMATION In-Depth: President Bush: East Asia Tour  Gallery: Cheers and jeers for Bush  Bush's 'Flying White House'  Interactive: A look at Bush's itinerary

Yet it seems most South Koreans are more worried about the impact of North Korea on their pocketbooks.

With its devastated economy, North Korea needs outside aid to feed its people.

President Kim Dae Jung's government has been more open than previous administrations about the issue of aid to the North. But as the reconciliation process seems stalled between the two Koreas, people in the South are concerned.

"Our economy is going through difficult times already, says Park Sung Ki, who works for a construction company. We cannot afford to help North Korea without getting anything in return."

Just 18 months ago, Kim made an historic first visit to the North to meet his counterpart, Kim Jong-il. It was a crowning moment for the President and his "sunshine policy".

Now the process is going nowhere.

"We are back to square one", says Park Kwan Yong, national assemblyman for the opposition Hanara Party.

"If we are back to where we were before the summit, I personally believe the sunshine policy has failed."

Despite three rounds of temporary reunions that brought together 300 families separated for nearly five decades, the two Koreas remain isolated from each other with no free travel, no letters, and no phone calls.

Even if the sunshine policy sees the light of a new dawn, North Korea's million-man army remains the number one threat to the South.

Park Jin Myung begins his compulsory three-year military service in a few months. He says it's hard to imagine going to war with the North.

"I guess we have grown so used to living with the threat that we have become quite numb,"' he said.

But Bush's tough stance against the North has shaken things up.