New mass protests increase pressure on South Korean president

For the fourth consecutive weekend, South Koreans took to the streets in massive numbers on Saturday to demand the resignation of the country's embattled president.


Waves of civil unrest have shaken the country since President Park Geun-hye was affected by a devastating corruption scandal.

Saturday's protest, organized by opposition parties and more than 1,000 civic organizations, came on the same day the Prosecutor's Office announced it was pressing charges against Choi Soon-sil, a close friend of Park who is at the center of the corruption allegations.

Choi stands accused of having enriched herself thanks to her close ties to South Korea's first female head of state, who assumed office in Feb. 2013.

While police estimated the number of protesters in Seoul at 155,000, the organizers claimed attendance surpassed 500,000 people.
 EFE-EPA
19/11/16
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• Protesters call for resignation of South Korean President Park Geun-hye