hankyoreh

during the candlelight rally at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul

A million people came together once more. On Feb. 25, the fourth anniversary of Park Geun-hye’s inauguration as president, the largest crowds this year assembled at Gwanghwamun Square and called for Park’s four years to be brought to an end. South Koreans were brought to the plaza by their rage over the disrespect that Park’s attorneys have shown for the Constitutional Court during her impeachment trial and over the absence of any indications that Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who is acting president, will extend the Special Prosecutor‘s period of investigation.

During the 17th candlelight rally, which was held just two days before the final arguments in the impeachment trial before the Constitutional Court and three days before the end of the mandate of the investigative team led by Special Prosecutor Park Young-soo, one million people gathered at Gwanghwamun Square, 40,000 people in Gwangju and 25,000 people in Busan, with a total of 1.07 million people around the country (according to estimates by the Emergency Movement for Park’s Resignation).

“As if it weren’t enough to undermine the authority of the Constitutional Court and to mock the bench, Park’s attorneys have gone out to the anti-impeachment rallies to stir up the crowds. This is adding fuel to the fire of the public rage over the Choi Sun-sil scandal. I came to the plaza because I’m angry about the behavior of Park’s attorneys,” said a man surnamed Hong, 67, who was carrying a candle with his wife.

Participants call for the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye and the extension of the Special Prosecutor’s investigative mandate

“Park’s attorneys have gone beyond dragging out the trial at the Constitutional Court and are now even talking about not accepting the outcome of the trial. This sort of behavior makes you wonder whether they’re even lawyers. The Constitutional Court must be steadfast in making its judgment as planned,” said Lee Sang-ho, 49, who attended the protest with his wife and two daughters, who are in middle school and elementary school.

Hwang Kyo-ahn was another target of protestors‘ criticism. “It’s embarrassing to see Hwang acting as if he were the president when he’s not an elected official but just an appointed official. He needs to stop angering the people with his presidential charade right away,” said Kim Yeong-wook, 34, an office worker.

There were also some protesters who said they had held a candle for the first time during this protest because of the false claims made by the anti-impeachment rallies. “The people who are holding anti-impeachment rallies and supporting Park need to immediately stop their ridiculous behavior on Park’s behalf, such as spreading false news and baseless slander about the Special Prosecutor‘s investigation,” said Choi Myeong-guk, 48.

When the candles were symbolically extinguished at 7:50 pm, phrases such as “Arrest Park Geun-hye,” “Extend the Special Prosecution,” “Hwang Kyo-ahn, resign” were clearly displayed by laser on the face of the Central Government Complex, located next to Gwanghwamun Square. As the protesters filling the plaza simultaneously lifted candles wrapped in red paper in a “red card” performance (representing ejection from the field in soccer), they shouted the slogan, “Impeach Park Geun-hye! Extend the Special Prosecution! Hwang Kyo-ahn, resign!”

Politicians were also singled out for criticism. Attending with her three-year-son in a stroller, a 40-year-old woman surnamed Yun said, “What the people want isn’t just for the president to be replacement. They want to clear away all the layers of vice and create a world where the people are sovereign.”

“Politicians need to follow the candlelight spirit instead of focusing just on elections,” Yun said.

Once the main demonstration was over, participants began marching in three directions: toward the Blue House, the Constitutional Court, and the Hanwha, Lotte, and SK chaebol head offices on Eulji Road. Torches made another appearance at the march toward the Blue House. Citizen Emergency Action also plans to hold an 18th candlelight demonstration for the Independence Movement holiday on Mar. 1.

By Kim Kyu-nam, staff reporter

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