Conservative South Koreans rally to support Park, more big protests loom
SEOUL: Supporters of South Korean President Park Geunhye, who has been impeached over a corruption scandal, rallied yesterday for her reinstatement, countering weeks of large protests calling on her to step down immediately.
Hundreds of thousands of protesters have thronged the streets of Seoul on recent weekends, demanding her resignation over the influencepeddling scandal involving a close friend. Another such rally was set for later yesterday.
Park’s presidential powers have been suspended since a Dec 9 impeachment vote in parliament was passed by a wide margin, which set the stage for her to become South Korea’s first elected leader to be thrown out of office. The Constitutional Court must first uphold the motion.
Park, 64, is accused of colluding with long-time friend Choi Soon-sil, who has been indicted and is in custody, to pressure big businesses to make contributions to non-profit foundations backing presidential initiatives. Yesterday’s pro-Park rally near the court a few blocks from the presidential Blue House drew largely older people who said those behind the movement to oust her were misguided.
“The people who love this country have come out to save the country despite the hardship,” Kim Ku-ja, 69, said with the national flag draped over her.
She blamed the media for fuelling anti-Park sentiment, focusing their coverage too much on the views of younger and liberal voters and on criticism that Park received cosmetic procedures while in office. — Reuters