Candlelit rally tightens noose on Park

Protestors demanding President Park Geun-hye's resignation over the influence-peddling scandal surrounding her confidant Choi Soon-sil gather 100 meters from Cheong Wa Dae during the sixth consecutive weekend rally in central Seoul, Saturday. A local court allowed protesters to go this far, the closest they have been able to approach the presidential office since the rallies began Oct. 29. / Korea Times photo by Kim Joo-sung

2.3 million protesters demand Assembly pass impeachment vote

By Park Si-soo, Choi Ha-young

It's the candlelit revolution ― a record number of 2.3 million people took to the streets across the nation, Saturday, demanding President Park Geun-hye step down and the National Assembly pass a motion to impeach her.

The historical sixth street protest came after Park made a third apology for the influence-peddling scandal involving her and her friend Choi Soon-sil, and opposition parties submitted a motion to vote on impeachment Friday.

The winter chill failed to deter people from gathering at the anti-Park protest rallies nationwide. Rather, their determination turned out stronger in the face of Park's resistance and the ruling Saenuri Party's apparent reluctance to vote for impeachment.

Park's third speech and apology, Tuesday, only added fuel to the people's anger by making it clear that she has no intention of stepping down.

"I wouldn't come here if I was not angry," said a housewife surnamed Ko, 48. "Park's third speech shows she has no remorse for what she did. Park should resign with dishonor. I don't need to listen to her fourth apology."

Protesters were able to march to within shouting distance of Cheong Wa Dae, the closest ever at 100 meters, following a Seoul Administrative Court decision Friday. For the previous rally, the court drew a 200-meter limit from the presidential office.

"She absolutely ignored the people," said Kim, 73, from Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province. "I believe the people power will change politicians, forcing them to pass the impeachment Friday."

Organizers said an estimated 1.7 million people were marching through the streets of central Seoul. Similar protests took place in other major cities, including Busan, Gwangju, Daegu, Daejeon and Jeju, with nearly 600,000 people participating.

The crowds chanted slogans such as "President Park Out" and "Disband the ruling Saenuri Party," carrying candles in one hand and fliers containing an anti-Park message in the other.

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In Seoul, an army of protesters holding flaming torches joined the march toward the presidential office.

In her latest address to the nation, President Park said she would leave her fate up to the National Assembly, causing cracks in the alliance of opposition parties for her impeachment. Following a tug of war, the opposition bloc agreed to put the impeachment motion up for a vote at the National Assembly Dec. 9.

In contrast, lawmakers of the ruling party are distancing themselves from the impeachment move and instead calling for Park to unveil a timetable for her resignation by April.

However, candlelit protesters sent a warning message that they will not tolerate politicians who vote against impeachment.

"Don't even mention resignation in April," said Jung Mi-jung, from Jindo, South Jeolla Province. She came to Seoul, Nov. 26, to take part in a candlelit protest and didn't go back home after watching Park's third speech. "She is a criminal. We, ordinary people, must visit a police station within a few days following a traffic violation. She must step down immediately."

Jung hung a paper poster reading "Step down, Park Geun-hye" around her neck and put a lit candle on her backpack.

Protesters, who were angry about the ruling party lawmakers' change of stance on Park's impeachment, staged a separate rally in front of the National Assembly and the headquarters of the Saenuri Party, Saturday afternoon. They chanted slogans calling on lawmakers to vote for the impeachment motion.

Choi Jong-hyun, who came from Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, said, "If the impeachment fails, Saenuri Party politicians should take responsibility. I came out here so that I can say to my future son that I was there."

Choi said she doesn't believe Park, even though she promised to resign in April, because she has no sincerity at all.

"People will not keep still if the lawmakers don't pass the impeachment vote Friday," said Kong Bok-soon, 53. "I can't allow conditional or honorable resignation, as well as a resignation through a constitutional amendment. How can a criminal ask for honor? Immediate resignation is necessary," she added. "I can't imagine a situation if the impeachment falls apart. This means a failure of the political system. Then, people will take action in front of the National Assembly in a direct way."

She said this is an opportunity for the people to root out corruption.

The police estimated that 420,000, including 320,000 in Seoul, took part in the protests nationwide, the largest-ever estimate by the authorities.

According to the organizer, the number of protesters during the six candlelit rallies has totaled 6.41 million across the nation ― 5 million in Seoul and 1.4 million in other cities.