News / Koreas

Thousands of South Koreans rally in Seoul to call for Park’s release

Saturday, 01 April 2017 3:16 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 01 April 2017 3:17 PM ]

Supporters of former president Park Geun-hye hold national flags during a rally at downtown Seoul, South Korea, on April 1, 2017. (Photo by AP)

Tens of thousands of South Koreans supporting arrested former president Park Geun-hye have rallied to call for her release.

Gathering in streets near Seoul City Hall, Park’s supporters, many of them in their 60s or older, chanted slogans like “Release President Park Geun-hye” and “Disband the National Assembly.”

“She has offered to sacrifice herself to protect the constitutionalism of the Republic of Korea and a free democracy,” a supporter said, referring to South Korea’s formal name.

Another rallier said that Park’s opponents “ruthlessly attacked a lonely woman who dedicated herself to the country” and that she would overcome her troubles to “live forever as a historical figure.”

Park was jailed Friday over allegations that she had colluded with a confidante to extort money from businesses, take bribes and allow her friend Choi Soon-sil to unlawfully interfere with state affairs.

Supporters of former South Korean president Park Geun-hye shout slogans during a rally at downtown Seoul, South Korea, on April 1, 2017. (Photo by AP)

The Constitutional Court had ruled on March 10 to remove her from office after she was impeached in December 2016.

Reflecting a nation deeply split over its future, Park’s opponents held their own protests in nearby streets, celebrating her arrest and calling for her conservative policies to be erased.

Seoul police used thousands of police officers and hundreds of buses to separate the two crowds, whose rallies have divided the city’s streets in recent months.

Park’s arrest marked a stunning fall for South Korea’s first female president, who convincingly defeated her liberal opponent in 2012 thanks to overwhelming support from conservative older voters that remembered her dictator father as a hero who rebuilt a nation devastated by a 1950-53 war with North Korea.

Prosecutors can detain Park for up to 20 days, during which they are expected to formally charge her. The most damning accusation alleges that Park took tens of millions of dollars in bribes from technology giant Samsung in exchange for business favors, which would be punishable by a prison term longer than 10 years and even a life sentence if she is convicted.

Park has apologized for putting trust in her jailed friend but has denied breaking laws.

(Source: AP)

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