- Title: 1.5 million rally against S. Korea's Park - protest organisers
- Date: 26th November 2016
- Summary: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (NOVEMBER 26, 2016) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) TOP SHOT OF CANDLELIGHT PROTEST IN PROGRESS VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS CHANTING WHILE HOLDING CANDLES AND POSTERS POSTER READING (Korean): "PARK GEUN-HYE STEP DOWN" PROTESTERS CHANTING WHILE HOLDING CANDLES AND POSTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN PROTEST ORGANIZER, HAN SUN-BUM, SAYING: "It has become apparent that Park Geun-hye, as a criminal, is neither qualified nor capable of being a president. She needs to step down immediately, since the impeachment process will extend over six months of her term, which will be troublesome for the people." PROTESTER HOLDING UP CANDLES PROTESTER, WEARING FLAME MASK, CHANTING PROTESTERS HOLDING UP AND WAVING CANDLES (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) 17-YEAR-OLD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT WEARING FLAME MASK, SHIN HEE-JOO, SAYING: "I came here today with my friend, since I heard about the rally on the news while watching television and I wanted to be supportive. I hope the government takes action by listening to our opinion and accepting it, according to what the rally is for and what it's all about." FAMILY SITTING, BOYS WEARING FLAME MASKS HOLDING CANDLES CANDLE LIGHT IN PAPER CUP PROTESTERS HOLDING UP CANDLES AND WAVING PROTESTERS HOLDING AND WAVING CANDLES AND POSTERS TOP SHOT OF CANDLELIGHT PROTEST IN PROGRESS TOP SHOT OF PROTESTERS HOLDING CANDLES, WALKING TOP SHOT OF CANDLELIGHT PROTEST IN PROGRESS SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (NOVEMBER 26, 2016) (REUTERS) (MUTE) VARIOUS TIME-LAPSE OF PEOPLE WALKING STREET TIME-LAPSE OF CANDLELIGHT PROTEST DEMANDING SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT PARK GEUN-HYE'S RESIGNATION
- Embargoed: 11th December 2016 12:56
- Keywords: South Korea Park Geun-hye rally demonstration Seoul protest protests corruption graft time-lapse
- Location: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- City: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
- Country: South Korea
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Civil Unrest
- Reuters ID: LVA0015A2XGLH
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Hundreds of thousands of people rallied in central Seoul on Saturday (November 26) for a fifth week of protests against President Park Geun-hye, in the largest ongoing series of demonstrations in the country since the 1987 movement to democratise South Korea.
Park's presidency has been rocked by allegations that a close friend used her ties to the leader to meddle in state affairs and wield improper influence. Prosecutors investigating the case have indicted her friend, Choi Soon-sil, and are seeking to question the president about her role in the scandal.
Organisers said 1.5 million people had gathered to join the demonstration by the end of the night. Police declined to give an estimate of the crowd size but said 25,000 personnel had been dispatched to police the protest.
The protests, now in their fifth week, have remained peaceful and marked by huge candle-lit rallies where activists and rock bands have entertained a diverse crowd of students, office workers, and young families.
Rally organiser Han Sun-bum said Park was "neither qualified nor capable of being a president".
"She needs to step down immediately, since the impeachment process will extend over six months of her term," he said, speaking at the protest.
"I hope the government takes action by listening to our opinion and accepting it," 17-year-old high school student, Shin Hee-joo, said.
Park's approval ratings slipped one percentage point on Friday (November 25) after hovering at just 5 percent for three consecutive weeks. Her disapproval rating rose three percentage points to 93 percent, according to a poll by Gallup Korea, which is not affiliated with the U.S.-based Gallup, Inc.
Park Geun-hye's popularity and election as president in 2012 stemmed in part from the symbolic connection to her father who ruled South Korea for 18 years until he was assassinated by his spy chief in 1979. Many, especially the elderly, credit Park's father with the rapid development of Korea.
However, only 9 percent of people aged over 60 said Park was doing well, according to the Gallup Korea survey. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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