The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Wed, July 6, 2022 | 18:59
Politics
Massive rally against justice minister, President rocks Seoul
Posted : 2019-10-03 16:39
Updated : 2019-10-04 10:05
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
Protesters wave Korean and U.S. flags at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, Thursday, during a massive rally organized by conservative groups to condemn the Moon Jae-in administration and call for Justice Minister Cho Kuk's resignation. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Protesters wave Korean and U.S. flags at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, Thursday, during a massive rally organized by conservative groups to condemn the Moon Jae-in administration and call for Justice Minister Cho Kuk's resignation. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

Conservative groups mobilize elders against Moon administration


By Lee Suh-yoon

Hundreds of thousands of mostly elderly citizens gathered in Gwanghwamun Square and streets near City Hall and Seoul Station, Thursday, to vent their discontent at the Moon Jae-in administration, calling on Justice Minister Cho Kuk to resign over corruption allegations leveled against him and his family.

Conservative civic groups and political parties ― including the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) and minor ultra-rightist Our Republican Party ― set up side-by-side rallies along Sejong Street. The protesters waving Korean and American flags marched from Seoul Station to Gwanghwamun Square blocking traffic at certain locations.

The huge turnout ― on a national holiday ― was sparked partly by a rally in southern Seoul last Saturday, where more than 1 million people, according to the organizers, condemned the prosecution for its "politically charged" investigation of Cho's family.

Organizers for the Thursday gathering said last week's turnout supporting Cho prompted conservatives to display their full strength in numbers. Subway stations and buses disgorged wave after wave of people, mostly in their 60s or above, into the streets. Around 3 p.m., the LKP claimed over 3 million people had shown up.

Right-wing religious leaders and politicians gave fiery speeches on the failing economy and the administration's "soft" response to North Korea's recent missile tests. They chanted slogans including "Arrest Cho Kuk" and "Moon Jae-in out."

Moon brushes aside 'public division'
Moon brushes aside 'public division'
2019-10-07 16:59  |  Politics
Justice minister's wife grilled again over alleged family corruption
Justice minister's wife grilled again over alleged family corruption
2019-10-05 10:52  |  Law & Crime
You don't represent us
2019-10-04 14:48
'Cho Kuk OUT' [PHOTOS]
'Cho Kuk OUT' [PHOTOS]
2019-10-03 16:07  |  Photo News
Prosecutors grill justice minister's wife for corruption allegations
Prosecutors grill justice minister's wife for corruption allegations
2019-10-03 16:41  |  Law & Crime
"The Moon administration is the worst, the most incompetent and the most immoral administration since the nation was founded," LKP floor leader Na Kyung-won said.

Protesters wave Korean and U.S. flags at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, Thursday, during a massive rally organized by conservative groups to condemn the Moon Jae-in administration and call for Justice Minister Cho Kuk's resignation. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk
Protesters hold placards calling for Justice Minister Cho Kuk's resignation at a massive rally in Seoul, Thursday. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk

LKP Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn alleged corruption allegations involving Cho keep multiplying one after another. "How can Moon appoint such a person as justice minister?" he asked the crowd. "Moon is ruining the country just to protect Cho."

Protesters taking a break from the sun in packed cafes near Gwanghwamun Square exchanged their latest theories on how unions were destroying the country.

"This administration doesn't click with our generation in terms of the national interest," said Im Jin-su, a 76-year-old Seoul resident. "We want peace and happiness for the country. Cho Kuk has a lot of faults and he was a left-wing activist. No country led by a leftist has ever come to any good."

"Cho is lying about his children's university admissions. He says his wife did the things, but that is no excuse," Yu Sun-ok, a 61-year-old from Daejeon, was quoted as saying by Yonhap News. "Cho should be judged by the law for lying, and Moon should also be judged for selecting Cho."

The main rally was followed by a smaller one organized by a coalition of university students around 6 p.m. at Marronnier Park in Daehangno, where the participants called for Cho's resignation.

The university admissions scandal surrounding Cho's children turned the public against the new justice minister, a liberal figure chosen by President Moon to fulfill his election pledge to reform the prosecution, which has long been accused of wielding too much power for political ends.

The prosecution's investigation into Cho's family was seen by some as an expression of resistance to such reform, and this stirred up some support for the embattled minister, as seen by last Saturday's rally.

Pressured by presidential orders, Prosecutor-General Yoon Seok-youl announced Tuesday the closing down of most special investigation units that had been set up to deal with high-profile corruption and political cases. This was one of the reforms proposed by the President.


Emailsylee@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
LG
  • Fashionista first lady draws polarized reactions
  • Price-conscious consumers flock to fresh food sales
  • Son Heung-min recalls experiencing racism in Germany, rejoicing at revenge in World Cup upset
  • Child porn website operator gets 2-yr prison term for concealing criminal proceeds
  • USFK member accused of alleged DUI on motorcycle
  • Korea's inflation soars to 24-year high, weighing on economy
  • June Huh becomes 1st scholar of Korean descent to win Fields Medal
  • Korea's inflation growth hits nearly 24-year high in June on fuel costs
  • US bill expresses concerns over proposed abolishment of Korean ministry of equality
  • Korea to expand nuclear power generation to 30% of total by 2030
  • Maroon 5's world tour image with Rising Sun design causes stir Maroon 5's world tour image with Rising Sun design causes stir
  • [INTERVIEW] How Frank Wildhorn became most popular musical composer in Korea [INTERVIEW] How Frank Wildhorn became most popular musical composer in Korea
  • [INTERVIEW] Yoon Doo-joon juggles music and acting for series 'Never Give Up' [INTERVIEW] Yoon Doo-joon juggles music and acting for series 'Never Give Up'
  • Enhypen returns with more intense music and performances Enhypen returns with more intense music and performances
  • Korea box office tops 15 mil. admissions in June Korea box office tops 15 mil. admissions in June
DARKROOM
  • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

  • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

  • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

  • Poor hit harder by economic crisis

    Poor hit harder by economic crisis

  • Roland Garros 2022

    Roland Garros 2022

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group