Huge protest urges scandal-hit South Korea president to quit
Tens of thousands of banner-waving protestors marched through the streets of Seoul on Saturday, demanding President Park Geun-Hye resign, a day after she apologised and accepted full blame for a crippling corruption scandal.
In one of the largest demonstrations seen in the South Korean capital in years, there was little sympathy for Park who, in an emotional televised address to the nation on Friday, had talked of her loneliness and "heartache" at the explosion of public anger in recent weeks.
The scandal has focused on a close personal friend of the president, Choi Soon-Sil, who has been arrested for fraud and also stands accused of meddling in state affairs -- including official appointments and policy decisions -- despite holding no official position.
The crisis has shattered public trust in Park's judgement and leadership, and her approval rating has plunged to just five percent -- a record low for a sitting president.
Police said more than 40,000 had turned out for Saturday's candlelight rally -- more than double the size of a similar anti-Park protest the week before.
Organisers said the number was closer to 200,000, after a Seoul court overturned a police ban on the demonstrators marching along the city's main ceremonial boulevard.
Around 20,000 police were mobilised, but while the tone of the banners and slogans was angry, the event was largely peaceful, with many school and college students as well as couples carrying infants or walking with their young children.
Despite the mass protests and public apologies, Park is seen as unlikely to resign with just over a year of her single term in office left to run.
The main opposition party has threatened to agitate for her ouster unless she devolves more of her extensive executive powers, but it is wary of forcing an early presidential election it would not be confident of winning.
- AFP