South Korean capital glows with anti-presidential fervor
Posted November 28, 2016 6:00 am
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - In each of the past five Saturday evenings, thousands of protesters have transformed a darkened avenue near the South Korean presidential palace into a sea of light, waving candles, glowing smartphones and battery-powered LED sticks, singing and shouting for President Park Geun-hye to step down.
Candlelight vigils have become the main form of mass, peaceful demonstrations in South Korea since the early 2000s, reshaping a national protest culture once known for its ferocity.
Thousands participated in candlelight vigils in 2002 protesting the death of two schoolgirls struck by a U.S. military vehicle, and in 2008 over Seoul's decision to resume U.S. beef imports amid persisting fears of mad cow disease. The crowds calling for Park's removal have been much larger.
In these photos by Ahn Young-joon and Lee Jin-man, South Korean protesters demand the ouster of Park, who is suspected of assisting criminal activities of a secretive confidante who allegedly manipulated power from the shadows and extorted companies to amass an illicit fortune.
FILE - In this Nov. 12, 2016, file photo, people holding candle lights stage a rally calling for South Korean President Park Geun-hye to step down in Seoul, South Korea. South Korean protesters in capital Seoul take part in candlelight vigils demanding the ouster of Park, who is suspected of assisting criminal activities of a secretive confidante who allegedly manipulated power from the shadows and extorted companies to amass an illicit fortune. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)
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FILE - In this Nov. 12, 2016, file photo, people holding candle lights mach toward the presidential house during a rally calling for South Korean President Park Geun-hye to step down in Seoul, South Korea. South Korean protesters in capital Seoul take part in candlelight vigils demanding the ouster of Park, who is suspected of assisting criminal activities of a secretive confidante who allegedly manipulated power from the shadows and extorted companies to amass an illicit fortune. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)
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FILE - In this Nov. 26, 2016, file photo, people holding candle lights stage a rally calling for South Korean President Park Geun-hye to step down in Seoul, South Korea. South Korean protesters in capital Seoul take part in candlelight vigils demanding the ouster of Park, who is suspected of assisting criminal activities of a secretive confidante who allegedly manipulated power from the shadows and extorted companies to amass an illicit fortune. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Nov. 26, 2016, file photo, an unidentified woman places a candle to form words that read "South Korean President Park Geun-hye should step down" during a rally calling for Park to step down in Seoul, South Korea. South Korean protesters in capital Seoul take part in candlelight vigils demanding the ouster of Park, who is suspected of assisting criminal activities of a secretive confidante who allegedly manipulated power from the shadows and extorted companies to amass an illicit fortune. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon. File)
The Associated Press
In this Nov. 26, 2016, photo, a street vendor prepares to sell candle lights and light sticks during a rally calling for South Korean President Park Geun-hye to step down in Seoul, South Korea. South Korean protesters in capital Seoul take part in candlelight vigils demanding the ouster of Park, who is suspected of assisting criminal activities of a secretive confidante who allegedly manipulated power from the shadows and extorted companies to amass an illicit fortune. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Nov. 19, 2016 file photo, South Korean protesters hold up candles during a rally calling for South Korean President Park Geun-hye to step down in Seoul, South Korea. South Korean protesters in capital Seoul take part in candlelight vigils demanding the ouster of Park, who is suspected of assisting criminal activities of a secretive confidante who allegedly manipulated power from the shadows and extorted companies to amass an illicit fortune. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)
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FILE - In this Nov. 26, 2016 file photo, South Korean protesters hold up candles during a rally calling for South Korean President Park Geun-hye to step down near the Gwanghwamun, the main gate of the 14th-century Gyeongbok Palace, one of South Korea's well known landmarks, in Seoul, South Korea. South Korean protesters in capital Seoul take part in candlelight vigils demanding the ouster of Park, who is suspected of assisting criminal activities of a secretive confidante who allegedly manipulated power from the shadows and extorted companies to amass an illicit fortune. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)
The Associated Press
FILE - In this Nov. 26, 2016 file photo, South Korean students wearing masks, hold candles during a rally calling for South Korean President Park Geun-hye to step down in Seoul, South Korea. South Korean protesters in capital Seoul take part in candlelight vigils demanding the ouster of Park, who is suspected of assisting criminal activities of a secretive confidante who allegedly manipulated power from the shadows and extorted companies to amass an illicit fortune. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man, File)
The Associated Press
In this Nov. 26, 2016 photo, South Korean protesters hold up candles and smartphones' light during a rally calling for South Korean President Park Geun-hye to step down in Seoul, South Korea. South Korean protesters in capital Seoul take part in candlelight vigils demanding the ouster of Park, who is suspected of assisting criminal activities of a secretive confidante who allegedly manipulated power from the shadows and extorted companies to amass an illicit fortune. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
The Associated Press
In this Nov. 12, 2016 photo, South Korean protesters hold up candles as they march after a rally calling for South Korean President Park Geun-hye to step down in Seoul, South Korea. South Korean protesters in capital Seoul take part in candlelight vigils demanding the ouster of Park, who is suspected of assisting criminal activities of a secretive confidante who allegedly manipulated power from the shadows and extorted companies to amass an illicit fortune. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)
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