Roundup: Biggest candles engulf streets in S.Korea after president's address over scandal

A historic number of candlelight engulfed the streets across South Korea as enraged people rallied to protest against President Park Geun-hye's third address to the nation earlier this week over a scandal involving herself and her longtime confidante.

About 1.7 million South Koreans gathered around the Gwanghwamun Square in central Seoul, just over a kilometer away from the presidential Blue House where Park's office and residence are located, according to estimates by organizers.

Other major cities across the country drew some 620,000 protesters, sending the total turnout to 2.32 million. It was the country's largest-ever demonstration, topping the previous week's 1.9 million nationwide.

The official function was organized for sixth straight Saturdays by an association to force the scandal-hit president from office, which is composed of around 1,500 civic groups.

The main roads and streets were transformed into a strip of "grand square," which was stretched between the Gwanghwamun Square and the Seoul Plaza in front of the Seoul City Hall.

The grand square was packed with common people holding candlelight or electronic candle, ranging from couples with children to the grey-haired elderly and students in school uniform.

When demonstrators started to march, the square created the spectacle of a river in which candlelight flows. The river engulfed the embattled president's office.

Before the official event, a crocodile of around 400,000 protesters marched up to 100 meters from the presidential office for two hours as a Seoul court allowed it. Last Saturday, the march was restricted to 200 meters.

They surrounded Park's office in three sides, forming a so-called "human chain." People shouted for the president's immediate departure from office, wanting their infuriated yells to reach the cloistered leader.

A lights-out event was held again for a minute. It is aimed to encourage people watching the rallies on TV to indirectly participate in the outside protest by turning off lights in offices or apartments.

Hundreds of thousands of candles were put out all at once and were lit up again, giving a message that the darkness cannot beat the light. During the minute of darkness, a thunderous wave of shouts resonated throughout the grand square.

Slogans people chanted for on the march got more aggressive. They screamed for Park's immediate impeachment and resignation. Banners hung on roadside trees demanded Park be imprisoned.

Demand became stronger for the ruling Saenuri Party's dismissal. Newly emerging were calls to arrest Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong and Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Mong-koo.

People were angered further after President Park's national address earlier this week. Park admitted to no wrongdoing, saying she had never pursed personal gains "for a flash" in about four years in office.

Prosecutors branded Park as a criminal accomplice to Choi Soon-sil, Park's decades-long friend who was charged with multiple counts including abuse of power and extortion.

The ball of decision on Park's fate was thrown in parliamentary court as the president demanded a legal procedure and schedule for her orderly departure.

A faction of the ruling party, which is not loyal to President Park, had agreed to impeach President Park, but its position changed after her public speech.

Most of the anti-Park faction members reportedly said that if President Park accepts a Saenuri-proposed timeline of resigning by next April and holding a presidential election two months later, they will not vote on the impeachment motion.

Opposition and independent lawmakers handed in the bill to impeach Park early Saturday, heralding a vote on it next Friday. To overcome the two-thirds threshold necessary for the passage through the National Assembly, at least 28 Saenuri members must join the impeachment move.

Some 20,000 protesters rallied earlier in the day in front of the Saenuri Party headquarters located near the unicameral assembly. They shouted for the party's dissolution and President Park's impeachment.

A recently-appointed independent counsel is widely expected to investigate into bribery charges involving Choi and chiefs of large business conglomerates.

Samsung Group, the country's largest family-run conglomerate, is suspected of bribing Choi in return for receiving support from the national pension fund in last year's controversial merger of two subsidiaries to create a de-facto holding company.

It was extremely crucial to Vice Chairman Lee to inherit management control from his father Chairman Lee Kun-hee who has been hospitalized for some two and a half years on heart attack.

Hyundai Motor is suspected of providing business favors to companies controlled by Choi and her acquaintances for fear of possible retaliations from the government such as tax inquiry.

SK and Lotte, two of the country's top five conglomerates, are accused of offering bribes to Choi in an attempt to get licenses for lucrative duty-free shop businesses. Endit