Pro-government activists shout
slogans and wave the national flags outside the Constitutional Court in Seoul
on February 27, 2017 as the court holds its final hearing in the impeachment
trial of South Korea’s President Park Geun-Hye.<br />JUNG Yeon-Je / AFP
Thousands of South Korean
protesters held rival mass rallies Sunday over the impeachment of President
Park Geun-Hye as judges prepare to rule on the scandal that has rocked the
country.
Park was impeached by parliament
last December over a major influence-peddling scandal that prompted millions to
take to the street for months to call for her resignation.
The case has also engulfed South
Korea’s biggest business, with the heir to the Samsung empire and four other
top executives indicted Tuesday on multiple charges including bribery and
embezzlement.
Park — currently holed up
in the presidential palace with her power suspended — expressed “belated
regret”, as the Constitutional Court wrapped up its hearings on Monday, with a
decision expected in March.
Her lawyers maintain that she was not aware of any wrongdoing and
blamed her secret confidante Choi Soon-Sil, who is accused of using her
presidential ties to force local firms to “donate” nearly $70 million to
non-profit foundations.
The case has bitterly divided Park’s supporters and detractors,
who have regularly taken to the streets.
Tens of thousands of anti-Park protesters rallied in Seoul
Saturday, some waving banners of the president in prison uniform and chanting
in unison “Constitutional Court, impeach Park immediately!”
Several blocks away, another much smaller demonstration demanded
the court reject the impeachment against the “poor innocent president”. The
mostly middle-aged or elderly supporters waved signs urging the military to
“rise up” and dismantle parliament.
While the court’s deliberations could technically take up to six
months, local media reports predict the judgement could come as early as next
week.
The impeachment motion needs approvals from at least six judges to
take effect, after which a presidential election will be held within 60 days.
If it is rejected, Park could return to work and stay until the end of her term
in February 2018. Choi is on trial for coercion and abuse of power.
The two women became close through Choi’s father, a shady
religious figure who was Park’s mentor for years. Park’s own father, dictator
Park Chung-Hee, was assassinated in 1979 by his intelligence chief.
The 65-year-old president is accused of colluding with her friend
to extract money from local firms as well as letting her handle a wide range of
state affairs including nominations to senior posts, despite having no official
title or security clearance.
A number of former presidential advisors and cabinet members have
been arrested or charged for their involvements in the scandal, including
allegedly leaking secret state documents to Choi at Park’s order.
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