2.3 million citizens take to streets calling for legitimate power transfer

2.3 million citizens take to streets calling for legitimate power transfer. December. 05, 2016 07:10. eligius@donga.com.

The nationwide candlelight rally once again lit the streets to demand the resignation of President Park Geun-hye across the country on Saturday. The sixth rally assembled the record-hit participants, which far exceeds the protest movement in June 1987, with 2.32 million participants estimated by the organizers, and maximum 430,000 of instantaneous protesters calculated by the police. Despite the chilly weather, demonstrators snowballed as Park did not clearly admit her responsibilities on the Choi Soon-sil gate at her third address to the nation last week.

The Seoul District Court allowed demonstrators to parade as close as 100 meters far from the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae for the first time. The recent authorization comes as the shortest distance for rallies and demonstrations under the current law. Once limited to approximately 1.3 kilometers from Cheong Wa Dae during the first and second rallies, distance has shortened from 900 meters (3rd rally), 500 meters (4th rally), and 200 meters (5th rally) and the national voice can be heard from the presidential office. Still, the streets are back to their everyday lives thanks to law-abiding citizens spontaneously carrying their litter back home.

A recent survey result showed on Thursday that 75.3 percent of public were for impeachment. Moreover, 500,000 citizens also lit their candles in Daegu where Park traditionally considered as her guaranteed voting base. Back in the June Democracy Movement in 1987, the atmosphere began to change as office workers joined the rally. So are the current demonstrations, as the vast majority of citizens, regardless of political stance, income level, age, gender, and region, demand Park to leave from her official position and step down,. Indeed, Koreans have matured high enough to turn protests into a festival of democracy and prevent violent demonstrations, which turned into a revolution to drag down their hand-picked president during the term.

The foreign news outlets are also paying close attention to the vibrant yet peaceful candlelight rallies. Foreign Policy magazine commented on the recent mass protests, “Mass Protests Are as Korean as Kimchi...it’s a stunning outpouring of political activism.” The Economist criticized Park’s tactics to delay her resignation, saying, “Ms. Park could salvage a little dignity by ending the circus now.” The national image tarnished by President Park is now being washed by the candlelight rallies.

This week will be a momentous turning point for Korea, as impeachment bill will be voted at the National Assembly this Friday. No one is for sure at the moment as to whether the public will calm down, even if Park announces to “resign next April and open presidential election in June.” As procrastination will no longer be tolerated, Park is left with no options, and shall prepare for a seamless transfer of power to the next administration under legitimate process.