Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Seoul Saturday to protest the South Korean president Park Geun-hye. The demonstration is the biggest yet in a five-week long series of protests that are the largest seen in the country since the pro-democracy demonstrations of the 1980s.
President Park Geun-hye sparked the controversy when it came to light a personal confidant of hers, Choi Soon-sil, was abusing her closeness to the president and pressuring businesses to donate millions of dollars to her various foundations, as well as inappropriate involvement in state affairs, allegedly with the president’s permission. Choi Soon-sil has been indicted, and investigators hope to question the president about her involvement in the schemes as well, reports Reuters.
President Park Geun-hye’s approval rating is currently below five percent. Disapproval is even higher from young people, and polls show that 99% of South Koreans aged 19 to 29 disapprove of the leader.
Despite the strength of disapproval, the protests have remained peaceful. While organizers say there were 1.5 million protesters present at tonight’s gathering in Seoul, police say the number was closer to 260,000. Reports say those present were a diverse group of farmers, students, Buddhist monks, and young families. The New York Timesreports that the protests have been “festive,” with street vendors selling snacks and musicians playing popular songs with altered lyrics that make fun of the controversial president.
Protesters accuse Park Geun-hye of hindering democracy and returning South Korea to military dictatorship, and though Park’s five-year term is scheduled to end in 2018, many South Koreans are calling for a resignation. If she does not resign, reports say her opponents are planning to seek impeachment.
