SEOUL, Nov. 26 (UPI) — The number of protesters calling for South Korean President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment reached an all-time high in the fifth consecutive week of demonstrations.
Organizers said about 1.5 million people gathered in cold and snowy conditions in the capital city of Seoul on Saturday while 1.9 million more joined throughout the country, according to Yonhap News Agency.
Police estimated a more modest total of 270,000 participants in Seoul and deployed about 25,000 officers to manage the peaceful protests.
The protesters marched just more than 650 feet away from the presidential office, the Blue House.
They also staged a “blackout” putting out their candles beneath the night sky at 8 p.m. local time, as other citizens were asked to join in by turning off the lights in their homes and offices.
Gallup Korea reported Park’s approval rating dropped to a record low of four percent, as opposition parties planned to put her impeachment to a vote in December.
Park issued an apology for allowing her confidante Choi Soon-sil to view classified documents and accumulate millions of dollars in donations to her foundations, but did not regain any favor with the public.
Prosecutors are expected to raise charges against Choi, but Park will not be charged under a provision in the country’s constitution which provides president immunity while holding office, according to CNN.
A Blue House official said Choi has been monitoring the protests on TV while holding meetings with her aides.
“We are keeping close tabs on the protest and the opinions of the people,” the official said.
