Political divisions coming out at downtown protests

By Kim Bo-eun

The candlelit protests, initially birthed out of the people’s determination to protect values such as fairness and rule of law, have now become a battleground for political ideals.

The protests began on Oct. 29, following the outbreak of the scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her confidant Choi Soon-sil. Choi, who held no government post, was alleged to have meddled in state affairs and received countless favors, from her daughter’s college admission to huge donations from conglomerates.

In the beginning, the weekly Saturday gatherings were mainly attended by citizens demanding President Park step down over her role in the scandal, and political differences were invisible.

But now, the line is clear between citizens and their political representatives calling for Park to step down, and pro-Park supporters down the street demonstrating against impeachment. Both are trying to outnumber and drown out the other.

Analysts say the rift began when some progressive participants started calling for the release of Han Sang-kyun, the head of one of the nation’s largest umbrella unions, who is standing trial on charges of orchestrating a massive anti-government rally in 2015, and Lee Seok-ki, a former leftist lawmaker imprisoned on treason charges.

“This is around when pro-Park groups joined the rallies, (claiming they would) protect the conservative Park administration from being taken over by the progressive opposition,” political analyst Choi Young-il said.

The scale of pro-Park protests has grown in recent weeks, and the Korea Freedom Federation, the nation’s largest conservative group, has vowed to hold a massive rally with almost 1 million supporters on March 1, Korea’s Independence Movement Day.

“The nature of the rallies, which began with the people’s sincere hopes for justice, has changed to become politically motivated,” Choi commented. “The participation of presidential hopefuls, who were not as enthusiastic in the early stages, has contributed further.”

They are being criticized for taking part to further their own interests to earn greater support.

Lawmakers of both the opposition and ruling parties have vowed to show up at rallies across the nation today, with only a minority taking a cautious stance on legislators pressuring the judiciary’s decision.

Organizers of the rally forecast up to 1 million to take part in the protest today, amid attempts by Park to delay the impeachment ruling. Participants, who began the protests Friday, will gather at the National Assembly at noon and march to Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul. The rally will be followed by marches to Cheong Wa Dae and the Constitutional Court. A large number of Park supporters from the conservative home turf of the southeastern Gyeongsang provinces are expected to come to Seoul for a pro-Park rally which will begin at 2 p.m. in Seoul Plaza, where conservative groups have set up tents flying the flags of Korea and the U.S.