Flame of anti-president rally ignited in US
Four Koreans from Koreatown in Los Angeles hold a protest in front of the Korean consulate general on Tuesday. The protest has been led by a Los Angeles-based civic group called “Political solidarity for the Korea issue.” / Courtesy of Political solidarity for the Korea issue
By Hong Dam-young
Koreans living in major U.S. states are calling on President Park Geun-hye to step down over the political scandal involving her confidant Choi Soon-sil.
A small group of Koreans from Koreatown in Los Angeles have been holding a protest in front of the Korean consulate general since Monday.
Led by a Los Angeles-based civic group called “Political solidarity for the Korea issue,” about seven people are taking turns to participate in the daily one-person protest during lunch hours, as most are office workers. The group initially started with four members, but more have volunteered after the group posted the protest on social media.
“I saw even the most conservative people who backed President Park here in Koreatown turning against her,” one of the protesters told The Korea Times.
“Now they are furious.”
There also was an hour-long rally in the nation’s capital, Washington D.C., on Wednesday. Two Koreans, members of the Coalition of Koreans in America (CKA), held a sign that read “Resign, Park Geun-hye” in front of the Embassy of Korea. They will hold a rally in front of the White House on Saturday while continuing the daily protest.
Meanwhile, Korean communities in the U.S. are planning large-scale rallies on Nov. 11, in accord with the big rally in Korea on Nov. 12 at Cheonggye Plaza, Seoul. The venues include Manhattan in New York City, Annandale in Virginia and the Korean consulate general in Los Angeles.
“We will end our protest by participating at the rally on Nov. 11 that will be held in front of the Korean consulate general at 6:30 p.m.,” said the protester from “Political solidarity for the Korea issue.”