Anti-president rally to regain momentum with presidential hopefuls' support

By Yi Whan-woo

Opposition presidential contenders plan to join the ongoing candlelit rallies that have taken place almost every weekend since a corruption scandal surrounding President Park Geun-hye broke out in late October.

Although they were often present at past rallies, their participation this time is stirring up controversy because it can be seen as political pressure on the Constitutional Court.

There have been rumors that the court may overturn the National Assembly’s impeachment of Park or delay its decision.

If this happens, it can deal a blow to Moon Jae-in of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and other opposition presidential hopefuls preparing for an early presidential election.

In particular, Moon has been taking a firm lead in popularity polls and has a higher chance of becoming the next president if the presidential election is held early instead of December as initially scheduled.

On the DPK side, Moon and Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung are set to join the candlelit rally at Gwanghwanmun Square in downtown Seoul while South Chungcheong Province Governor An Hee-jung will do so in Gwangju, according to party officials, Friday.

They said Moon initially had other plans over the weekends but postponed them to concentrate on the anti-Park rally.

The DPK is trying to mobilize its members to the rallies as well, by asking all of its lawmakers to make appearances.

From the minor opposition Justice Party, its chairwoman Rep. Sim Sang-jeung will attend a candlelit protest in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, where a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery will be deployed despite residents’ opposition.

The other minor opposition, the People’s Party, left it up to its members whether to join the anti-Park rallies.

Its chairman Rep. Park Jie-won and floor leader Rep. Joo Seung-yong plan to attend the rally in Gwangju.

But presidential hopeful and former chairman Ahn Cheol-soo said he will not take part. He expressed concerns over pressing the Constitutional Court although he cited a need for accepting the impeachment motion.

The People’s Party has been critical of Moon and the DPK, claiming they are acting as if “they have been organizing the candlelit rallies.”

“The politicians should serve the public, but instead, the DPK is trying to take advantage of the public for its own political ends,” People’s Party spokeswoman Ko Yeon-ho said. “We ask the DPK to stop being arrogant and focus on its political responsibilities.”

The ruling Saenuri Party has refrained from commenting on whether its members should join rallies organized by conservatives in a countermeasure against the candlelit protests.

But several loyalists to Park at the ruling Saenuri Party plan to take to the streets.

They include Reps. Yoon Sang-hyun, Jun Hee-kyung, Park Dae-chul, Yi Wan-young and Lee Yoo-hyun.

The Bareun Party, formed of ex-members of the ruling Saenuri Party who left in the wake of the corruption scandal, has been against politicians joining either anti- or pro-Park rallies.

“The politicians really should refrain from dividing the nation and stirring up conflict,” party chairman Rep. Choung Byoung-gug said.