SEOUL Twenty thousand demonstrators brushed aside a police barricade Tuesday to defy a ban on taking their May Day rally toward the main government district of the South Korean capital, according to AFP.

The demonstrators, strongly denouncing the economic policies of President Kim Dae-Jung, pushed past 300 police guarding a main road toward the Kwanghwamun District.

Amidst fears of clashes, demonstrators and pedestrians applauded as the police ranks gave way. There was no immediate violence, but 600 riot police formed a second barricade 50 meters (yards) further down the road.

About 15,000 security forces were put on alert for the rally after the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) vowed to march into the government district.

The authorities have been under pressure to prevent unrest for the May Day rallies following police clashes with redundant car workers last month in which dozens of police and workers were injured.

President Kim condemned the police action used against the Daewoo Motor workers. But Tuesday's rally was condemned by the president.

A large banner declaring: "Down with Kim Dae-Jung regime" was displayed behind about 20 disabled workers in wheelchairs at the front of the march.

More than 10 trucks with loudspeakers escorted the street march blaring out slogans denouncing the government and the police crackdown on labor movement.

Demonstrators wore red headbands saying: "Fight for Survival Rights" and "Fight for Job Security."

Traffic came to a standstill as police took up positions at a main intersection heading to the main government and embassy district.

Police had banned the KCTU rally from entering Kwanghwamun. The union confederation had said there could be trouble if police tried to stop them.

The national police agency had authorized labor events and promised riot police would not carry batons to avoid clashes, but it said water cannon would be used if there was violence.

A second rally by the Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU) drew about 4,000 people to the main Seoul railway station.

Unions and police are locked in a debate over who caused labor unrest at the demonstration on April 10 by workers laid off at bankrupt Daewoo Motor.

Both sides insist the other triggered the violence. President Kim said later he was ashamed at the crackdown. "I feel so ashamed that I don't know how to describe my feelings. It was a very regrettable incident," he said.

Kim Dae-Jung came to office in February 1998 vowing a new era of democracy after decades of authoritarian rule. The president ordered security forces to stop using tear gas at demonstrations.

But in recent months, students and labor activists have again started hurling fire bombs at security forces during demonstrations against the government's economic policies.