Big anti-Park rally expected Saturday

Published : Oct 28, 2016 - 16:26 Updated : Oct 28, 2016 - 16:44

Civic organizations, student groups and labor unions will hold a joint rally in Seoul on Saturday, calling for President Park Geun-hye‘s resignation.

Over 200,000 are expected to gather near Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul at 6 p.m., according to local media. This is the first large-scale anti-government rally since news broke that Choi Soon-sil, a confidante of President Park, meddled in state affairs.

Political parties as well as the presidential office are expected to pay keen attention to the rally, using it as a way to gauge public sentiment on the issue.

The largest and second-largest opposition parties -- the Minjoo Party of Korea and the People’s Party -- will not participate, they said, in a bid to distance themselves from those calling for Park to step down. The Justice Party, a far-left wing with six lawmakers, said Thursday it will hold outdoor rallies to unseat Park.

A flurry of revelations surfaced this week that Choi, a veiled confidante of President Park, had access to confidential presidential data and interfered in state affairs.

Public outrage has sent Park’s approval ratings to their lowest since her inauguration in Feb. 2013. Thursday’s poll showed that over a majority of the public want her out of the Blue House -- either through voluntary resignation or impeachment.

Participants hold candles and signs reading, “Park Geun-hye, resign!” in a candlelight vigil held in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. (Yonhap)

On Thursday, members of the civic organization “Seoul People’s Dream,” held a candlelight vigil in Sinchon, western Seoul, while the Youth Anti-Government Association called for a strict and thorough investigation at a rally in Gwanghwamun. The young demonstrators have registered another protest at the same spot for Friday.

On Friday harsh criticism echoed throughout the overseas Korean community, which is comprised of 50 countries, urging the president to step down. “We are not just concerned but are shocked with the current state of the nation,” the community said in a statement.

Korean residents in Germany are reportedly planning for a rally in the country for the impeachment of Park.

On Friday, more university students condemned the president.

“Park and her confidante Choi meddled in the state affairs and abused the values of the nation’s Constitution and people’s rights. As citizens of sovereignty we demand the president to step down and take responsibility,” said law school students from Seoul National University in a public statement.

The general student council of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies also slammed the government Friday for “being ignorant of the demands from society and is avoiding conviction,” and Kyunghee University students are scheduled to hold a protest on Tuesday.

Two university students were arrested and brought in for questioning after they appeared at a convention center in the southern city of Busan where President Park attended a forum, chanting “Park Geun-hye, step down. Arrest Choi Soon-sil,” on Thursday.

By Jo He-rim (herim@heraldcorp.com)