Pro-Park ralliers claim scandal concocted by N. Korea

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Thu, December 8, 2022 | 19:32

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Pro-Park ralliers claim scandal concocted by N. Korea

Posted : 2016-12-04 16:36

Updated : 2016-12-04 18:07

Yoon Chang-jung

By Kim Rahn

Conservative civic groups and members of President Park Geun-hye's fan club have claimed that the current influence-peddling scandal involving her confidant Choi Soon-sil is a "witch-hunt" against the President organized by North Korea.

About 30,000 people from pro-Park groups, including the group "Park Sa Mo" (literarily meaning people who love Park), held a rally in front of Dongdaemun Design Plaza in central Seoul, Saturday.

It was a separate gathering from the massive anti-Park candlelit protest in Gwanghwamun where 1.7 million people called for the President's resignation over the Choi scandal.

Mostly in their 60s and older, the participants said the candlelit protests were orchestrated by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

"Park did not take a single penny for personal interest and it was Choi who took the money," Jung Gwang-yong, head of Park Sa Mo, said during the rally. "But people say it was third-party bribery. It is a witch-hunt and kangaroo court."

"The independent counsel has not yet disclosed the truth, but people are calling for Park's resignation or impeachment based only on rumors from the media. This is insane," said Heo Pyeong-hwan, head of a conservative civic group for peace and reunification.

Heo said the President complied with almost all of his group's wishes, including pressuring the North by closing down the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, disbanding the Unified Progressive Party and publishing the state-authored history textbook. He also proposed a "taegeukgi protest" to deal with the candlelit protest.

One of the participants, former presidential spokesman Yoon Chang-jung, blamed the media for "spreading rumors" and "attempting to overthrow the government." Yoon, who was the first presidential spokesman for Park, was accused of making unwanted sexual advances toward a young intern working as his temporary secretary during Park's first visit to the U.S. in 2013. He was fired in the middle of the trip.

"The media and the politicians bombarded me with criticism because they thought they would be able to deal a blow to the President by dealing a blow to me, as I was the first official appointed by Park," he said.

"Overthrowing state authority through protest cannot happen in a constitutional democratic country."

Yoon also claimed his innocence about the sexual harassment allegations. "Because I was innocent, I did not commit suicide unlike Roh Moo-hyun," he said, referring to former President Roh who killed himself in 2009 while undergoing an investigation into his alleged bribery acceptance allegations.

After the rally at Dongdaemun Design Plaza, the participants marched to Jongno. Jung said he is considering holding a demonstration at Gwanghwamun Square next Saturday, raising concerns over possible clashes with anti-Park ralliers who also plan to continue their protest there.

6주째 박근혜 대통령 하야 촛불집회가 열리는 3일 동대문 일대 등에서 보수단체와 박 대통령 추종단체의 '맞불집회'가 열렸다.

박사모(박근혜를 사랑하는 모임) 등 '보수대연합' 소속 회원 3만명(주최 측 추산)은 3일 오후 2시 서울 중구 동대문디자인플라자(DDP) 앞에서 집회를 열어 '선동의 촛불은 김정은(북한 노동당 위원장)의 명령'이라며 '(박 대통령을) 마녀사냥에 내몰지 말라'고 요구했다.

대부분 60대 이상으로 보이는 집회 참석자들은 저마다 손에 태극기를 들고 흔들며 '국회는 해산하라', '촛불 거짓 선동으로 나라가 풍전등화', '서문시장 방화범 수사하라' 등 구호를 외쳤다.

여성 인턴 직원을 성추행한 의혹으로 자리에서 물러났던 윤창중 전 청와대 대변인은 집회 무대에 올라 '저 윤창중 3년 6개월 만에 살아서 돌아왔다'며 '언론과 정치권이 저를 난도질한 이유는, 박 대통령 제1호 인사인 윤창중을 무너뜨려야 대통령을 쓰러뜨릴 수 있다고 생각했기 때문이다. 박 대통령이 무너지면 대한민국을 지킬 수가 없다'고 말해 참석자들의 갈채를 받았다.

허평환 자유민주평화통일국민연합 회장은 박 대통령이 개성공단 철수를 통해 북한을 압박하고, 통합진보당을 해산시켰으며 역사교과서를 국정화하는 등 자신들이 부탁한 것을 다 들어줬다고 상찬했다. 이어 촛불집회에 대응해 태극기 집회를 열자고 제안했다.

정광용 박사모 중앙회 회장은 박 대통령이 단돈 1원도 사적으로 챙기지 않았는데도 '비선실세' 최순실씨가 챙긴 것을 가지고 '듣도 보도 못한 제3자뇌물죄'를 거론하는 것은 마녀사냥이자 인민재판이라고 비판했다.

이들은 집회를 마치고 종로3가로 행진했다.

보수단체 애국단체총협의회는 오후 2시 여의도 산업은행 앞에서 주최 측 추산 5천명이 모인 가운데 '한마음 국민대회'를 열어 대통령 하야 요구는 법치주의에 어긋난다고 주장했다.

다른 보수단체 새로운한국을위한국민운동과 국가기도연합은 각각 오후 3시와 오후 7시 서울역광장에서 집회와 기도회를 연다. (연합뉴스)

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