- Title: South Korean protesters mark New Year with bell tolling ceremony
- Date: 31st December 2016
- Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (DECEMBER 31, 2016) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** PEOPLE GATHERED AT BELL PAVILION CALLED 'BOSINGAK' FOR BELL-TOLLING CEREMONY LASER BEAM / LETTERS ON ROOF READING (Korean): "2017", "NEW YEAR" PEOPLE HOLDING UP POSTERS OF TRADITIONAL KOREAN LUCKY BAG POSTERS IN SHAPE OF KOREAN TRADITIONAL LUCKY BAG/LETTERS ON LUCKY BAG READING (Korean): "HAPPY NEW YEAR!" PEOPLE COUNTING DOWN FOR NEW YEAR SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (JANUARY 1, 2017) (REUTERS) PEOPLE CHEERING LETTERS ON ROOF READING (Korean and English): "BE HAPPY", "HAPPY NEW YEAR" VARIOUS OF KOREAN PEOPLE SELECTED AS REPRESENTATIVES OF CITIZENS, RINGING BELL PEOPLE HOLDING UP MOBILE PHONES, TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN STUDENT, HAN SONG-YI, SAYING: "In 2017, I hope Park Geun-hye is impeached as the citizens gathered today, and I hope for the good of the country." PEOPLE HOLDING UP MOBILE PHONES, TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS, SOUTH KOREAN NATIONAL FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN CITIZEN, LEE JI-SOOK, SAYING: "It was the year of frustration and rage for all the people, but in the name of Korean citizen, with anger, we've been doing well. So I wish for a better year than the year of 2016, in 2017." MOBILE PHONE BEING HELD UP, SCREEN READING: "2017" PEOPLE TALKING PHOTOGRAPHS WITH MOBILE PHONE/ FIREWORK DISPLAY
- Embargoed: 15th January 2017 17:38
- Keywords: South Korea protesters New Year
- Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- City: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- Country: South Korea
- Topics: Human Interest/Brights/Odd News,Society/Social Issues
- Reuters ID: LVA0015F7R807
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:South Korean protesters joined the year-end countdown at a bell tower on Sunday (January 1) in downtown Seoul after their protests to demand President Park Geun-hye's immediate resignation.
Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in front of a large bell pavilion called 'Bosingak' and counted down for the New Year.
On late Saturday (December 31), about 1,000,000 protesters gathered in Seoul for the 10th anti-president weekend rally, according to the organiser.
President Park is accused of colluding with her old friend Choi Soon-sil to pressure big businesses to make contributions to non-profit foundations backing presidential initiatives.
She has denied wrongdoing but apologised for carelessness in her ties with Choi, a friend for four decades. Choi is in detention while on trial; she has also denied the allegations.
Park's impeachment is being reviewed by the Constitutional Court, which has 180 days from the December 9 parliament impeachment vote, to uphold or overturn it and reinstate the leader. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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