Tens of thousands of South Koreans call for Park to quit

Tens of thousands of South Koreans poured into the streets of downtown Seoul on Saturday demanding the resignation of President Park Geun-hye over a political scandal that has engulfed the nation.

The protest, the largest anti-government demonstration in the capital in nearly a year, came a day after Park apologized on live television amid rising suspicion that she allowed a mysterious confidante to manipulate power from the shadows.

Holding banners, candles and colorful signs that said “Park Geun-hye out” and “Treason by a secret government,” the demonstrators packed a large square in front of an old palace gate and nearby streets, singing and thunderously applauding speeches calling for the ouster of the increasingly unpopular president.

They then shifted into a slow march in the streets around City Hall, before moving back to the square and cheering on more speeches that continued into the night.

“Park should squarely face the prosecution’s investigation and step down herself,” said Kim Seo-yeon, one of the many college students who participated in the protest. “If she doesn’t, politicians should move to impeach her.”

Police estimated Saturday’s crowd at 45,000, although protest organizers said about 200,000 people turned out.

Police lined up dozens of buses and deployed mobile walls mounted on trucks to close off paths to the presidential office and residence, known as the Blue House. Thousands of officers dressed in fluorescent yellow jackets and full riot gear stood in front of and between the vehicles as they closely monitored the protesters.

Earlier in the week, prosecutors arrested Choi Soon-sil, the daughter of a late cult leader and a longtime friend of Park’s, and detained two former presidential aides over allegations that they pressured businesses into giving $70 million to two foundations Choi controlled.

There also are allegations that Choi, despite having no government job, regularly received classified information and meddled in various state affairs, including the appointment of ministers and policy decisions.

Smaller protests have taken place daily in past weeks in Seoul and other cities amid growing calls for Park to step down. While several politicians have individually called for the ouster of Park, opposition parties have yet to attempt a serious push for her resignation or impeachment in fear of negatively impacting next year’s presidential election.

Park has tried to stabilize the situation by firing eight aides and nominating three new top Cabinet officials, including the prime minister, but opposition parties have described the personnel shuffles as a diversionary tactic.

One national poll released Friday had Park’s approval rating at 5%, the lowest for any president in South Korea since the country achieved democracy in the late 1980s following decades of military dictatorship.

In Friday’s televised apology, Park commented on the corruption allegations surrounding Choi and her former aides and vowed to accept a direct investigation into her actions, but she avoided the more damning allegation that Choi perhaps had interfered with important government decisions on policy and personnel.

Opposition parties, sensing weakness, immediately threatened to push for her ouster if she doesn’t distance herself from domestic affairs and transfer the duties to a prime minister chosen by Parliament. The parties also have called for a separate investigation, led by a special prosecutor, into the scandal.

Park has 15 months left in her term. If she resigns before the end of it, South Korean laws require the country to hold an election to pick a new president within 60 days.

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UPDATES:

2:10 pm: This article was updated with police estimating the crowd at 45,000 and other details.

This article was originally published at 2:40 a.m.