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| With public anger reaching its peak, at least 500,000 citizens are expected to take to the streets for a rally in downtown Seoul, Saturday, calling for President Park Geun-hye's resignation over the influence-peddling scandal involving her confidant Choi Soon-sil. / Korea Times photo by Kim Joo-sung |
By Choi Ha-young
At least 500,000 people are expected to join a rally at Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul Saturday, calling for President Park Geun-hye to step down, according to the rally organizer Friday.
The largest-ever rally in recent decades will become a watershed for Park who is under pressure over the influence-meddling scandal involving her confidant Choi Soon-sil.
The rally organizer, an association of 1,500 civic and labor groups, expects up to 1 million to take to the streets to demand Park's resignation. The number is expected to be larger than that in the 2008 rally against former President Lee Myung-bak's decision to allow American beef imports when 700,000 people were estimated to have participated. People from the provinces plan to come to Seoul for the protests.
The protestors will gather at Seoul Plaza in front of City Hall at 4 p.m. and start to march across downtown Seoul through areas including Jongno, Euljiro, Myeong-dong, Seodaemun and Sungnyemun at around 5 p.m. The route will be akin to surrounding Cheong Wa Dae.
This became possible after a local court dismissed a police ban on holding a rally 200 meters from Cheong Wa Dae citing "traffic inconvenience."
"The continuous rallies were peaceful, without considerable confusion," the court said. "Traffic inconvenience is expected by the rally, but society has to tolerate this to ensure the freedom of addembly," it ruled.
After the march, protestors will gather at Gwanghwamun Square for cultural events including singers' performances. Many are expected to remain overnight for speeches like last Saturday's rally.
"This means citizens will not go back home until Park steps down," Han Seon-beom, spokesman for the rally's organizers told The Korea Times. "We will encourage people to share their stories through free speech sessions."
This Saturday could be an inflection point for Park's political life, a political commentator said.
"If public anger explodes palpably, the ruling Saenuri Party may approve of impeachment to win the next presidential election," Choi Young-il said. "Considering her personality of stubbornness, she will resist the call to resign. But she cannot help surrendering if the ruling party cuts off her."
Concerned over possible clashes during the rally, the government requested citizens, Friday, to hold a peaceful rally within legal limits.
"We know that the recent scandal has disappointed the people," Education Minister Lee Joon-sik said in a statement during a press briefing in Seoul, with the attendance of Justice Minister Kim Hyun-woong and Interior Minister Hong Yoon-sik.
"But national security is under threat from North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles. The government is making efforts to carry out state affairs despite such threats. We urge people to trust the government and cooperate for a peaceful rally."
The government decided to set up emergency centers for possible accidents. It will also set up a center for lost children, expecting many adult protestors to bring their sons and daughters.
The organizers vowed a peaceful rally following the two previous events with no violence. However, the police said they are considering the use of water cannons in the case of violence.
"This is a threat against citizens, to decrease the number of participants," Han said in response.
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