S KOREA'S ANTI CORRUPTION STANCE TAKES GREATER FORM AS THE PROTEST AGAINST THE REIGNING KOREAN PRESIDENT PARK GEUN-HYE HEATS UP AGAINST HER - UP TO 1 MILLION PEOPLE PROTESTING FOR HER TO RESIGN FROM OFFICE AFTER BEING TIED TO THE UNELECTED FRIEND CHOI SOON-SIL INVOLVMENT IN GOVERNMENT POLICY MAKING WHEELING AND DEALING FOR CHOI'S BENEFIT IT WOULD SEEM -

Up to 1 million South Koreans took to the streets of central Seoul on Saturday, demanding President Park Geun-hye’s resignation over a scandal involving her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil.

In the largest anti-government rally in decades, protestors flooded the streets running through City Hall, Gwangwhamun Square and Anguk Station, turning the area into a vast sea of candlelight in the evening. Streets just hundreds of meters from Park’s presidential residence of Cheong Wa Dae were also packed, with participants chanting “Park Geun-hye resign!”

 Organizers said over 1 million gathered for the protest, but the police’s estimate was 260,000.

At Cheong Wa Dae, lights were seen turned on deep into the night.

The embattled president watched Saturday’s colossal protest from her residence, while her staff, in a somber mood, discussed how to cope with the situation, sources at the presidential office said.

Many had expected Saturday’s rally to be a watershed moment for Park’s presidency in a crisis sparked by allegations that she let civilian friend, Choi, manipulate power from behind the scenes. Park’s approval ratings have sunken to an abysmal 5 percent, with a majority of people demanding her immediate removal from office.

While Cheong Wa Dae kept silent Sunday, political parties on both sides of the aisle were seen clearly affected by the overwhelming demonstration of public anger.

 http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20161113000197