Park loses people's confidence

Protestors hold pickets which read "Park Geun-hye resign" during a candlelight vigil on Saturday evening at Cheonggye Plaza, central Seoul. Almost 20,000 participants walked toward Cheong Wa Dae. / Korea Times photo by Shin Sang-soon

By Choi Ha-young

Tens of thousands of citizens held a candlelight anti-government rally at Cheonggye Plaza, central Seoul, Saturday — many holding pickets reading: "Impeach Park Geun-hye" and "Is this a country?"

Over 20,000 gathered in the largest rally this year, demanding the scandal surrounding Park's confidant Choi Soon-sil be thoroughly investigated. Civic groups vow to hold candlelight rallies every day across the nation.

At the rally, people expressed their anger and frustration with the Park administration for allowing a person with no official title to meddle in state affairs.

It was not only university students who made statements denouncing the Park administration, as many older people, including traditional Park supporters, joined the protest as well.

"I've lost trust in this government," said a participant surnamed Kim, 80, from Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province. "She has to step down on her own right now."

Following the protest with speeches and performances until 7:30 p.m., citizens walked across Gwanghwamun Plaza toward Cheong Wa Dae.

"Koreans have taken pride in the nation's development and democracy, but with the Choi scandal, everything we have built appears to be collapsing," said a protester surnamed Ok, 51. "It's so embarrassing and shameful."

Park's former supporters expressed a sense of betrayal.

"I came here with my son to show how deeply we are disappointed in President Park. I voted for Park like many other old people did. But she disappointed her supporters and betrayed the people," a 70-year-old participant said. "She has to step down for destroying the nation before the situation turns uglier."

The police once blocked people with a wall of police buses in front of Le Meilleur Building in Jongno, but soon took away the barricade. The confrontation between demonstrators and police continued until 11 p.m. but no violence took place. The police broadcasts to dismiss the protestors were exceptionally respectful.

"It is the first time that I have ever come to this kind of protest. I came here with my 13-year-old son to join the rally," said a father surnamed Ahn, 43.

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Interpretation disorder

People believe Choi held total control over Park. They said Choi must have had sway over key national affairs, including the deployment of a terminal high altitude area defense (THAAD) missile defense unit and the sex slavery deal with Japan.

"Besides the Sewol ferry disaster, I couldn't understand the administration's policies, for example, the closure of the Gaeseong Industrial Complex, THAAD deployment and the agreement on the comfort women. Now, every doubt has been proven," said a participant surnamed Kim, 47.

She rarely attends anti-government protests, but came here with two friends.

The most frequent words that protesters expressed were "embarrassing" and "never imagined."

"These days, I don't read books or watch dramas or movies. Reality is more dramatic than any fiction," said Park, 47, who came with Kim.

Chun Sang-chin, a sociology professor at Sogang University, said Choi's influence on state affairs provided a clue for the public to understand the reasons behind many of the unreasonable, directionless decisions on key national issues by the Park administration.

"Under the current situation, people cannot help but listen to rumors. Nobody can say ‘don't believe it,' because many rumors turned out true," he said. "People are falling into deeper confusion." Chun called this "interpretation disorder."

What people want is the truth behind the scandal and for politicians to take follow-up steps to regain the public's trust, analysts said.

"The wounds are too deep. Without healing these wounds, Korea can't find the motivation to improve society," said Han Sang-hie, professor at Konkuk University Law School. "The way to recover the trust of law is simple: punishment to all those who are responsible for this mess, including the Saenuri Party leadership."

Analysts said what disappoints the people most is the rumors that Choi is still a member of a cult-like religious group and she influenced President Park in private on everything from what to wear and what to say to North Korea.

Public anger may expand according to Park's reaction, said Lee Byoung-hoon, a sociology professor at Chung-Ang University.

"If the Park administration would not tell the truth and Choi's meddling in state affairs proves to be true, this would develop like the candlelight rallies in 2008 against President Lee Myung-bak," Lee said.