The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Kim Min-gyu, Go Bo-gyeol bid farewell to 'The Heavenly Idol'

  • 3

    Han Suk-kyu on return of 'Dr. Romantic' with Season 3

  • 5

    Genesis launches 2023 G90 sedan

  • 7

    Churches, Seoul gov't unite to fight low birthrate

  • 9

    Burnout: Cardiothoracic surgery residents work 102 hours a week

  • 11

    Kakao Entertainment, Colombia Record team up for IVE's North American debut

  • 13

    What's next for Do Kwon?

  • 15

    BTS' Jimin releases solo album

  • 17

    Crypto founder Do Kwon is indicted in US, following Montenegro arrest

  • 19

    Over 70% of firms unwilling to embrace longer workweek

  • 2

    Zoo shares sad story of what caused Sero the zebra to escape

  • 4

    Kim Nam-gil to embark on Asia fan-meeting tour

  • 6

    N. Korea tests 'underwater nuclear attack drone,' cruise missiles for nuclear warhead: KCNA

  • 8

    North Korea will pay price for reckless provocations, warns Yoon

  • 10

    Hybe to sell SM shares to Kakao following failed takeover bid

  • 12

    Kyochon heralds 30,000 won fried chicken era

  • 14

    Second daughter of Daesang chairman promoted to vice president

  • 16

    More companies adopt electronic voting amid increase in shareholder activism

  • 18

    Samsung Electronics chief to attend China Development Forum

  • 20

    Samsung Display strike looms due to deadlocked wage negotiations

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Sun, March 26, 2023 | 06:10
Politics
Massive rally against justice minister, President rocks Seoul
Posted : 2019-10-03 16:39
Updated : 2019-10-04 10:05
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
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
 
Top 10 Stories
1Zoo shares sad story of what caused Sero the zebra to escape Zoo shares sad story of what caused Sero the zebra to escape
2Genesis launches 2023 G90 sedan Genesis launches 2023 G90 sedan
3Churches, Seoul gov't unite to fight low birthrate Churches, Seoul gov't unite to fight low birthrate
4North Korea will pay price for reckless provocations, warns Yoon North Korea will pay price for reckless provocations, warns Yoon
5Burnout: Cardiothoracic surgery residents work 102 hours a week Burnout: Cardiothoracic surgery residents work 102 hours a week
6Kyochon heralds 30,000 won fried chicken era Kyochon heralds 30,000 won fried chicken era
7What's next for Do Kwon? What's next for Do Kwon?
8Second daughter of Daesang chairman promoted to vice president Second daughter of Daesang chairman promoted to vice president
9More companies adopt electronic voting amid increase in shareholder activism More companies adopt electronic voting amid increase in shareholder activism
10Over 70% of firms unwilling to embrace longer workweek Over 70% of firms unwilling to embrace longer workweek
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Kim Min-gyu, Go Bo-gyeol bid farewell to 'The Heavenly Idol' Kim Min-gyu, Go Bo-gyeol bid farewell to 'The Heavenly Idol'
2Yoo Yeon-seok threatens to sue people spreading accusations about him Yoo Yeon-seok threatens to sue people spreading accusations about him
3Han Suk-kyu on return of 'Dr. Romantic' with Season 3 Han Suk-kyu on return of 'Dr. Romantic' with Season 3
4Kim Nam-gil to embark on Asia fan-meeting tour Kim Nam-gil to embark on Asia fan-meeting tour
5Lee Som, Ahn Jae-hong to play married couple in Tving's new series Lee Som, Ahn Jae-hong to play married couple in Tving's new series
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

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
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group