Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.
Rallies in support of prosecutorial reform grow
People hold a massive rally in front of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in southern Seoul, Saturday, to show support for Justice Minister Cho Kuk and the Moon Jae-in administration's push for prosecutorial reform. Organizers claim around 3 million people took part in the rally. Yonhap
By Kim Hyun-bin
By Kim Hyun-bin
Protests calling for reform of the prosecution are expanding, with rallies taking place across the country participated in by larger numbers of people.
In southern Seoul, Saturday, a massive candlelit rally was held near the Supreme Prosecutors' Office in support of President Moon Jae-in's prosecutorial reform plan and Justice Minister Cho Kuk ― a larger protest than the Sept. 28 one which the organizer said drew 1.5 million.
The organizers claimed over 3 million people took part, occupying eight lanes of the 1.1-kilometer road north and south, and 10 lanes of the 1.2-kilometer road east to west, from Seocho Station. Police had to expand their closure of roads due to the number of participants.
According to some observers, the larger attendance was triggered by a rally held Oct. 3 by conservative political and civic groups in downtown Seoul, where 3 million people, according to the organizers, called for the minister's removal from office.
On Saturday participants chanted slogans such as, “Reform the prosecution” and “Protect Cho Kuk” as they believe the prosecution's investigation into corruption allegations involving Cho's family is to hamper him carrying out Moon's reform plan.
Smaller rallies were also staged in Gwangju and Busan in front of the local prosecutors' offices there.
Those calling for Cho's resignation and arrest over the corruption allegations, mostly conservatives, also continued to hold protests.
Hours before the candlelit gathering, the minor conservative Our Republican Party staged a rally nearby calling for the minister to step down. Many more conservative civic groups, including the Alliance of Korean High School Alumni for National Security, also participated.
Police mobilized around 5,000 officers to prevent clashes between the two rallies, and erected a barricade between them. Only several minor incidents were reported.
Conservatives hold a protest in southern Seoul, Saturday, to call for arrest of Justice Minister Cho Kuk over the corruption allegations involving his family. Yonhap
On the same day, the prosecution summoned the justice minister's wife Chung Kyung-sim, an English language and literature professor at Dongyang University, for the second time to question her over the corruption allegations.
Chung was indicted early last month for forging her school's presidential citation so her daughter could use it to be admitted to Pusan National University Medical School. She is also allegedly involved in dubious investments in a private equity fund.
The summons came two days after she was first questioned, and after she rejected an earlier one, citing health reasons.
This time Chung spent around 15 hours at the prosecution office, but officials said only 2 hours and 40 minutes were used for additional questioning, while most of the time was for her to review her statements made previously.
Chung is said to have denied most of the allegations and prosecutors plan to summon her again in the near future.