Seoul – More than 200,000 demonstrators joined one of South Korea’s largest rallies in recent decades on Saturday, calling for the resignation of President Park Geun Hye amid accusations she allowed a friend to influence policy decisions.
Organizers said about 850,000 people have taken part in the protests so far and the number could reach a million. Police however placed the number people protesting near the presidential palace in the Seoul city centre at between 220,000 to 260,000.
Around 25,000 police were deployed to contain the crowds.
People attend a rally over the weekend in Seoul asking for the resignation of South Korean President Park Geun-hye amid a scandal about sharing government information with a friend. Park proposed a cabinet reshuffle Wednesday to mollify protesters, but the opposition says it is not enough. Xinhua/Newsis/Xinhua via ZUMA Wire
According to the Yonhap news agency, opposition parties including politicians eyeing the president’s office for themselves were among the participants at the rally, which was organized by 1,500 or more left-leaning groups.
Protests were also planned in 30 different cities across South Korea, as well as in 10 cities abroad, including the United States and Germany, according to broadcaster KBS.
Speaking at the Seoul rally, Choo Mi-ae, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party was quoted by Yonhap as saying that the party would take concrete steps to ouster Park if the president “continues to ignore the people’s demands and orders.”
Both the Democratic and the ruling Saenuri Party have already spoke of plans to introduce independent probes into the affair.
The scandal surrounding undue influence on the South Korean president has drawn thousands to the streets since her confidante, Choi Soon Sil, was accused of having access to and influencing state affairs without an official seat in the government.
Choi, currently in police custody, also stands accused of using her access to raise funds for foundations and to personally enrich herself.
Park has apologized for allowing her friend and confidante to review speeches and personnel decisions.
But the whiff of corruption – especially amid charges that Choi used her connection to Park for financial gain – has led Park’s popularity to plummet to 10 per cent in a recent poll.
Park’s one-time five-year term in office is due to end in February 2018, after presidential elections at the end of next year.
-dpa
