Koreans react to Park’s downfall
Celebrations and anger greet president’s impeachment
ACROWD of South Koreans, jubilant at the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye over a corruption scandal, took to the streets of Seoul to call for her arrest and imprisonment. The crowds were much smaller than the huge candlelight rallies that contributed to her ouster, but the sense that this was a historic moment was clear. Thirty years after they protested to bring democracy to their country, South Koreans had protested to bring about the peaceful removal of a president.
“The Republic of Korea is a democratic nation,” people sang in the central Gwanghwamun plaza, waving signs that said “Arrest Park Geun-hye” and “Go to prison”.
Some people took selfies in front of a replica jail cell containing cardboard cutouts of Park and the others implicated in the scandal, while others snacked on specially packaged “prison bread”.
“The power of the candle! Justice has triumphed,” yelled John Shin, a 29-yearold translator at the rally. A band played the Queen hit We Are the Champions.
But there was also anger that, about 30 hours after her dismissal and three months after she was suspended from duties, Park remained in the presidential Blue House, which is within earshot of the rallies.
“It’s not good that she’s still in the Blue House,” said Lee Ha-na, a 24-year-old web designer. “I want her dragged out because that’s what’s right.”
Shin Tae-soo, a 37-year-old law school graduate, carried a sign that said: “Unemployed civilian Park Geun-hye is illegally occupying the Blue House. Park Geun-hye must immediately move out. The place she belongs is prison.”
Television footage from outside Park’s house in southern Seoul showed internet service personnel and handymen going in and out, with a heavy police guard. But Park remained in the Blue House, and a spokesman said no date had been set for her departure.
The former president has not commented on her impeachment, with an aide telling Yonhap News Agency she was “in a state of shock” and “needs time to come to terms with what has happened to her”.
“She must have assumed she wasn’t going to be impeached,” said Cho Eun-ji, a homemaker at the rally with her 12-yearold son.
The Constitutional Court dismissed Park on Friday after finding that she had “continuously” violated the law and had tried to cover it up. – Washington Post