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Hundreds of Thousands Rally in South Korea, Calling for Park's Ouster

By VOA News November 12, 2016

Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators gathered at a mass rally in South Korea Saturday to demand the ouster of President Park Geun-hye.

Police in Seoul said about 260,000 people demonstrated, which would be the country's largest protest in three decades, but organizers claimed they had a million people turnout.

High school students, Catholic nuns, farmers, retirees, and young couples with babies marched on a road in front of the presidential palace gate chanting "Park Geun-hye, resign!", blowing horns and banging drums.

As the sun set, demonstrators waved candles and banners, continuing to chant slogans calling on Park to quit.

Koreans from around the country traveled to the capital to join demonstrations.

"It was our wedding anniversary yesterday but we cancelled our anniversary trip and came to Seoul because we thought it was more important for our daughter," Cho Joo-Pyo told the French Press Agency, alongside his wife and two-year-old daughter, having traveled from their hometown nearly 200 kilometers away.

Over 20,000 police officers, many in riot gear, were deployed amid calls for calm.

The protest is the latest in a series demanding Park's resignation over a corruption scandal that has crippled her administration. Her approval ratings have fallen to just five percent.

The investigation into a multi-million-dollar influence peddling scheme, allegedly organized by the president's longtime friend Choi Soon-sil has shattered Park's carefully crafted political image as an incorruptible leader, and has left her increasingly isolated and powerless. They are accused of pressuring South Korean businesses into giving $70 million to foundations that Choi controlled.

Choi is alleged to have exercised a "cult-like" influence over Park and control over her staff, even though she had no official government role.

Choi is also being investigated for exploiting her personal relationship with the president to coerce large corporations to donate more than $68 million to two sports foundations, and funneling much of that money to her private businesses.