Seoul power: ‘million-strong’ protest heaps pressure on South Korean president

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Protesters hold candles during an anti-government rally in central Seoul on November 12, 2016. Pressure on South Korea's scandal-hit president to resign escalated sharply on November 12, with organisers claiming a million-strong turnout at one of the largest -- and loudest -- anti-government protests the country has ever witnessed. / AFP PHOTO / JUNG YEON-JE

Published: 9:16pm, 12 Nov 2016Updated: 10:46am, 14 Nov 2016

Tens of thousands of men, women and children joined one of the largest anti-government protests seen in Seoul for decades on Saturday, demanding President Park Geun-hye’s resignation over a snowballing corruption scandal.

Park Geun-hye must resign because she didn’t take good care of our country

Park Ye-na, 11-year-old student

Police had planned for 170,000 people, but organisers said they expected a final turnout of up to one million for what was the third in a series of weekly mass protests that have left Park fighting for her political survival.

On the back of official appeals for calm, police deployed around 25,000 officers, many of them in full riot gear, while police buses and trucks blocked every access road – major or minor – around the presidential Blue House.

As with the previous protests, the huge crowds were extremely mixed, with high school children rubbing shoulders with retirees and young couples marching with babies or young children.

“Park Geun-hye must resign because she didn’t take good care of our country,” said 11-year-old student Park Ye-na.

South Korean people march toward presidential house, which is blocked by police. Photo: EPA

The steady beat of drums and chanted slogans made for a raucous but largely peaceful atmosphere, with banners everywhere mocking Park and calling for her to step down immediately

In a televised news conference on Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Lee Joon-sik had voiced concerns at the possibility of “illegal collective action or violence” and urged the protestors to respect police barriers.