About 15,000 people on Saturday participated in a rally in Seoul, South Korea to condemn Japan's trade restrictions on the country. /VCG Photo

Despite the heat, protesters gathered for a candlelight vigil in front of the Japanese embassy and criticized the Abe government for an "economic war" against South Korea, national broadcaster KBS reported. /VCG Photo

The rally was held by an association of some 600 civic groups, and it was estimated that about 15,000 people took part in the event, including high school students. /VCG Photo

Japan started to impose restrictions on the sale of key high-tech materials to South Korea on July 4 and approved a plan to also remove it from its trade "white list" earlier this month. The trade dispute has prompted a consumer backlash in South Korea, with many boycotting Japanese goods. /VCG Photo