'Impeachment festival' in full swing
By Jung Min-ho
The news that the National Assembly impeached the most unpopular president in the country's history, Park Geun-hye, apparently excited many Koreans, including business owners who offered giveaways in celebration of the historic moment.
Street vendors near Sinchon Station handed out free tteokbokki to thousands of people on Saturday afternoon, while many were still happily surprised with the voting result which came out the day before.
The vendors’ association in western Seoul promised to give away tteokbokki near Sinchon, Hongik University and Ewha Womans University stations before lawmakers voted against the President over an influence-peddling scandal involving her confidant Choi Soon-sil.
According to the association, vendors prepared tteokbokki for 3,000 people initially but they ran out of food faster than expected. So they procured extras later for 1,000 more people.
Free goods like coffee, juice and cotton candy were distributed at Gwanghwamun Plaza on Saturday when more than 1 million people gathered there to celebrate the impeachment of the President despite the cold weather.
Meanwhile, a torrent of offers ranging from free chickens to special discounts for weight training has filled Facebook and other social media.
“Chicken soup and beef will be offered at half price, with one bottle of free soju as well as a lottery ticket,” said a business owner on Facebook, adding that Saenuri Party supporters, however, won’t be allowed in.
As soon as the impeachment news broke out, Changbi Publisher offered 10 newly published books to its Facebook fans “with joy.”
Web portal Naver offered a big discount on an on-demand film, “The Attorney” (2013), based on a true story in Busan in 1981 involving former President Roh Moo-hyun, who worked as a human rights lawyer at the time.
As promised, the owner of Hotel 109, a business hotel in Busan, also did not charge hotel guests on Friday.
Speaking to Busan Ilbo, a local newspaper, the owner said, “I received more than 600 calls that day and all rooms were filled immediately. I’m so glad to share the pleasure with those who are sick and tired of the Choi Soon-sil scandal, even though I made no money.”