Feb. 11 (UPI) — Opponents and supporters of impeached South Korea President Park Geun-hye held competing rallies in the nation’s capital.
Those who opposed Park held their 15th weekly candlelight rally in Gwanghwamun Square, while her supporters waved South Korean flags outside of Seoul City for their 12th rally.
Organizers for the pro-Park rally said they will call for her impeachment to be revoked and for the dissolution of the special prosecutors’ team, which they believe were swayed by “false” and “fabricated” charges against the president.
Park’s critics came out in protest against a call to draw out the probe into her corruption scandal, which can be extended by a month with consent from Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ah, who is serving as acting president.
“Park’s supporters are expecting that the impeachment would be nullified if the special probe ends this month and acting Chief Justice Lee Jung-mi retires next month,” Vice Chairperson of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions Kim Kyung-ja said. “We should be more united to make our voices heard for Park’s ouster.”
The court had previously resolved to complete the process before Lee’s retirement on March 13, which would leave only seven members on the traditionally nine-member bench.
Presidential hopefuls including provincial governor An Hee-jung and former leader of the main opposition Democratic Party Moon Jae-in attended the anti-Park rally.
“People gathered together again as they want Park to immediately be unseated,” Moon said.
Rhee In-je of the ruling Saenuri Party attended the pro-Park rally “to be part of the patriotic people’s wave,” while Ahn Cheol-soo, a former chair of the minor opposition People’s Party, did not attend either rally.
